Lifestyle Trend: India’s First Privately Run Railway Station Isn’t In Mumbai Or Delhi, But This State | Travel News You Should Know

Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 13:56 IST

Comparable to airports, India’s first privately run railway station has various amenities like waiting lounges and food courts and is run on solar panels for energy efficiency.

The Indian Railways transports an average of two crore passengers daily.

Trains are the lifeline of India. In fact, in 2024, the Indian Railways transported an average of nearly two crore, or 20 million, passengers daily. While the daily average can fluctuate, a report by PIB stated that in November 2024, on one day alone, over 3 crore passengers travelled by trains during the festive season.  The Indian railways are mostly run by the government and is managed by the Ministry of Railways.

The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world and covers a total route of 67,956 km across the length and breadth of India. It operates around 7,461 railway stations in the country.

However, did you know that India got its first privately run railway station in 2017?

This is the Habibganj Railway Station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. It was inaugurated in June 2017. The Indian Railways ventured into privatisation with this station to modernise the historical station. It was renamed Rani Kamalapati railway station in November 2021 to honour Gond queen Rani Kamalapati.

This railway station operates under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This station, which is situated on the New Delhi-Chennai main line, was redeveloped by the Bansal Group under the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC). It serves as the headquarters of the Bhopal railway division.

The modernised Rani Kamalapati railway station features amenities comparable to airports, including a spacious concourse, waiting lounges, food courts, and retail outlets. It is equipped with solar panels for energy efficiency and advanced surveillance and security systems. This model is being eyed for other major stations like New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai CST, as it is said to have set a new standard for station redevelopment in the country.

Although managed and operated by a private entity, the station remains the property of Indian Railways under the PPP framework, signifying a significant stride in India’s railway infrastructure development.