A section of railway land beside Bira station on the Bongaon branch will be leased or rented to a private company for a mini market and other commercial facilities, according to a report by Anandabazar. The plan is part of the Sealdah division’s effort to increase non-fare revenue while making everyday goods available to passengers and other station users.
The station is located about 35 kilometres from Sealdah and is used by several thousand passengers a day, the report said. Besides local commuters, travellers from other areas use Bira station, including pilgrims travelling towards Chakla Dham. Railway sources said the proposed market is intended to serve the regular needs of local passengers as well as visitors passing through the station.
Under the reported arrangement, the private company will receive a 10-year lease of the station-adjacent land. It will pay the railway an annual licence fee of Rs 55,55,555, excluding goods and services tax. The total value of the agreement over the 10-year period has been stated as Rs 8,80,79,702.
The proposed commercial use of the land follows a wider revenue strategy in the Sealdah division. The division has already completed agreements worth more than Rs 100 crore by leasing station land and available space for activities outside passenger fares, according to the report.
Railway land at Jadavpur station was leased several months ago for the construction of a multi-purpose market. The railway has also conducted eviction drives at several stations on the North and Main lines of the Sealdah division to recover land and open areas under its control. The newly available space is being considered for commercial use, the report said.
The railway’s stated approach is to use private companies to develop commercial facilities while also improving passenger convenience. At Bira, the proposed mini market is expected to combine retail activity with the station’s role as a transit point for local commuters and visitors. The report did not specify the market’s construction schedule, final layout, list of tenants or the date on which the facility will open. Further details will depend on the lease implementation and development process.
