India gets its first green building certified railway station. Here?s more!

The foundation stone for the Kevadiya railway station will be reportedly laid by President Ram Nath Kovind and the event will be attended by Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Gujarat and Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister.

The plan to come up with the railway station near the statue was being implemented by the Railway Ministry after the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) asked it to develop a state-of-the-art station with a view to increase the tourist foot fall and boost local trade. The Railway Board has reportedly sanctioned the work to convert 18 km Dabhoi-Chandod narrow gauge into broad gauge and extension from Chandod to Kevadia Colony by constructing a new 32 km line. However, the railways is expected to carry out works on 50 km railway tracks to facilitate the railway station which would cost around Rs 6.63 billion.

Besides, the station is also said to be the first railway station in India with a green building certification from its first day of operation. At a budge of Rs 200 million, the eco-friendly station is expected to house local art and culture that will provide direct rail connectivity to the world's tallest statue. The construction is expected to be completed by September 2019.

Due to broad-gauge connectivity with the Mumbai-Delhi main line via Vadodara, the Kevadiya railway station is expected to boost the overall development of the region by triggering growth in trade and industries.