Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said the Railways have advertised its plan for about 400 'A-1' and 'A' category stations which are generally located in major cities and important tourist destinations on 'as is where is' basis for redevelopment.
He said during Question Hour that the process has been started by inviting proposals from interested parties with their designs and business ideas.
Prabhu said the entire cost of the station redevelopment is to be met by leveraging commercial development of spare railway land/air space in and around the station.
The Minister said as many as 1,253 railway stations have been identified for upgradation by the Indian Railways under the ongoing 'Adarsh station' scheme.
"Till date, 1,253 railway stations have been identified under 'Adarsh station' scheme, of which 1,022 stations have already been developed," he said.
The Minister said more stations may be considered for inclusion under the scheme whenever there is any proposal for further selection of more stations under this scheme, based on their relative importance and justification based on passengers handled there.