NEW DELHI: The country’s first InterModal Station (IMS) integrating road, rail and metro terminals will come up by the end of 2023 at Nagpur. The first phase of the project, which has been bid out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), will come up on 44.5 acres in the city having the capacity to handle over three lakh passengers per day.
Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday that he will ensure the project gets completed in time. “This will be a project that I will highlight when I will seek votes in 2024. This first-of-its kind project in India will set an example for transformation of urban transport infrastructure in India,” he said. This project will generate employment for nearly 10,000 local youth and will also boost economic activities, Gadkari said.
The project has been designed on the lines of Salaris Transit Center in Moscow, Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center in the United States and Jiaxing Train Station in China.
Member (technical) in NHAI, Manoj Kumar said the project has been awarded and the work will start soon. “The agency will have to complete the project in 30 months from the date of start of construction and it will be responsible for maintenance for 10 years,” he added. The second phase of the project will focus on commercial development to make the project financially sustainable.
Officials said the arrival and departure areas at the IMS will be on different levels for ease of movement and there will be shopping and dining facilities for people.
“This will be a zero liquid discharge project and about 3,000 trees will be transplanted and five new trees will be planted for every tree being cut. The new facility is being developed in an environmentally friendly manner, with sufficient open and green spaces incorporated in the design. The development of this facility shall lead to environmental benefits including reduction in congestion and pollution,” NHAI said.