'Secunderabad will be a world-class station'.

A project that has remained a dream thus far, the Secunderabad railway station becoming a world-class station, came to the fore again recently. The Railway Budget contained a reference to 10 stations across Indian Railways being classified as 'world class'. But what are the ten stations in this list is still a matter of conjecture.

For that matter, the Railway Ministry has already included Secunderabad station to be developed as a world-class station in the 2012 budget. Senior railway officials say that world-class railway station means more cleanliness, best–in-class facilities and services including escalators and lifts, increased response time and WiFi connectivity in the station.

When asked about it being in the list of world class stations as mentioned by the Railway Minister in the budget, SCR General Manager P.K. Srivastava was confident that it would indeed find a place in the ‘truly world-class’ station list.

Though the 2012 budget included Secunderabad as the world-class station nothing had happened so far. The reason, officials say, none qualified for the bids when tenders were called from technical consultants-cum-architects. The tenders were called for the second time, but again none qualified. Following this, the matter was referred to the Railway Board and hence Secunderabad station becoming a world-class station remained as a proposal.

Officials, however, say that Secunderabad station is known for its cleanliness and services.


THE HINDU