Recently, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that the ministry has identified 1,318 stations for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), 'the world's biggest railway station redevelopment programme'. It was first announced in 2023 to develop 508 stations with an outlay of Rs 250 billion. With this scheme, stations are expected to get modern passenger amenities, better traffic circulation and inter-modal integration. Ultra-modern technology, architecture and digital initiatives will shape these railway stations into architectural marvels and contribute to redefine India’s future. However, it is less successful with underutilised funds allocated for passenger amenities. Against this background, FIRST Construction Council had its webinar on Railway Station Redevelopment Projects: Challenges and Opportunities with experts - Karun Raj Singh Sareen, Partner, Major Projects Advisory, KPMG; Vikaas Ahluwalia, Director, Ahluwalia Contracts (India) and Raman Sikka, Associate Principal, Sikka Associates Architects. The event was moderated by Rakesh Rao, Executive Editor, ASAPP Info Global Group. Growth magnets In terms of footfalls, no airport can compete with a railway station. So there is a huge opportunity for railway stations as growth magnets. Railway stations like airports should enhance the passenger experience said Ahluwalia. Highlighting the need for modernisation and use of new materials in station construction he said, The initiative to redevelop stations will create job opportunities and boost the economy. Agencies in these projects should be up-to-date with modern design standards. Opportunities & Challenges Karun Raj Singh Sareen said, While Indian Railways is implementing high-speed rail, it is also aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Currently, completion of redevelopment in 57 stations is expected within two to three years. The challenges include coordination among multiple authorities, issues with codes and approvals, implementation difficulties due to construction in live stations, shortage of labour and resources, the need for innovation and technology, shift from PPP to EPC and the absence of a regulatory framework. Sareen said, Finance has always been a challenge. Now, the government has given it a push by providing a budgetary support so that it can be expedited. But, in the long run, other financial routes will also have to come into play for long term success. PPP mode needs to be encouraged. Maximising commercial value of redeveloped stations can present an attractive proposition for private investors. Architects' perspective Explaining the designing aspects Raman Sikka said, Now, as station redevelopment takes off, the positive impact of the project will be felt for many decades in the future. During his presentation, Sikka while highlighting various important aspects of station redevelopment processes explained, The first aspect to consider is mandatory works versus revenue generation works. The first priority should be to complete mandatory works in lesser time and then look at maximising revenue generation potential by optimally using land available in the stations. The second aspect to consider is intermodal connectivity. To redevelop landmark structures that give the city its unique identity, both the heritage look as well as modern-day amenities are equally important.