Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu explains to Shantanu Nandan Sharma that the station redevelopment plan and the new bidding method are more transparent than the conventional Swiss challenge model. Edited excerpts : 

On the progress of station redevelopment 

We have taken concrete steps for development of 100 railway stations across the country. These are in various stages of development. In addition, zonal railway managers are having roadshows and pre-bid meetings for another 300 stations. Altogether, there will be work in 400 stations. We have appointed Boston Consulting Group to give us advice. The idea is that a project of this scale must be done in a transparent manner. We have prepared pre-bidding, tender and all kinds of documents in the most transparent way. It’s the biggest ever station redevelopment programme taking place anywhere in the world. Many other nations too have redeveloped their stations, but nowhere in the world are so many stations being taken up at one go. 

On linking station development with the smart city project 

We have tied up with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for linking smart cities with our station development programme. There can’t be any smart city unless there’s a smart railway station. If 100 smart cities are created, there will redevelopment of at least 100 stations.