Title - Mysore railway station soon a one-stop centre for all travel needs

MYSORE: City railway station will soon be developed as passenger amenity and it would be one-stop centre for all your travel needs.

Railway authorities are in the process of finalizing tender with regard to the establishment of multi-functional complex (MFC) at the entrance of the station. MFC, which aims at providing better passenger facilities, including food court, cyber cafe, telephone booths and chemists' shops, under one roof in select stations, is ready at Mysore railway station.

The civil work is complete and the railway authorities are finalizing a tender to make MFC functional, and the same would be likely to start operation from March, this year. Passengers travelling to/from will be benefitted largely by the facility as they needn't stop at various places for their travel requirements like drawing money from ATMs, having food or to buy medicines or any goods.

The project was delayed following controversy over taking permission from local civic authorities in establishing the facility in Mysore. Now, with local authorities giving permission, the railway authorities have initiated the process to declare it open.

Rail Land Development Authority and Indian railway construction organization, who are implementing the project, have invited tenders from individuals to set up passenger amenity. Now, they are in the process of finalizing it. Tender application is likely to be finalized by February-end.

South Western Railway divisional senior commercial manager Anup Dayanand Sadhu told TOI that MFC will be functional in another two months. It has been proposed to establish two ration shops, an ATM, a bookshop, a PCO, a medical shop and an internet cafe at the ground floor (5,439 sqft). An anchor shop, a bakery, and a food plaza have been planned on first floor (4,608 sqft). A space of 504 sqft, available on the terrace, can be used for restaurant.

This passenger amenity centre will benefit railway passengers in great way as they can fulfill their travel needs at this one-stop centre.

Saying that there will be no direct entry to platforms from MFC, Anup said the project in Mysore has been put on fast-track. Hubli is the other station where MFC is coming up.

This apart, railway authorities have selected eight other stations in Karnataka for MFCs. They include: Yeshwanthpur, Bangarpet, Davangere, Shimoga town, Tumkur, Arsikere, Bellary and Birur. Except, Birur, land for MFC has been identified at other seven places and the projects are underway.