BENGALURU, India — Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Ltd (IRSDC) has opened Indian Railways’ first movable freshwater tunnel aquarium in India’s southern state Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru.
Located at Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru railway station, the aquarium, based on the Amazon River concept, was thrown open on July 1.
The joint venture project of IRSDC and the HNi Aquatic Kingdom will make passenger’s waiting time at the station pleasurable.
In addition to enhancing passenger experience, the initiative would be a revenue earner for Indian Railways. A nominal entry fee of INR 25 ($0.33) has been kept per passenger.
The aquarium was opened for the public by Mohd Ismail and a girl child Samriddhi Jain, the first visitors to the aquarium, in the presence of senior Railway and IRSDC officials.
“We endeavor to transform Indian Railways by re/developing stations at par with airports,” S.K. Lohia, managing director, and chief executive officer of IRSDC, said.
“It also enhances passenger delight with our excellent facility management initiatives; wherein even the waiting time will become a pleasurable experience for the passengers and visitors rather than being mundane.”
This Aquatic Kingdom will entice passengers and visitors, and it will be an enjoyable and educative experience.
Even following strict Covid-related protocols, up to 25 visitors can visit the aquarium at a time.
It is notable that the 12-feet-long aquarium is Indian Railways’ first caldarium housing myriad flora and fauna and will be a must-visit spot.
The entrance of the Aquatic Kingdom gives a glimpse into marine life, with a beautiful dolphin humbly greeting visitors with a slight bow and a smile.
3D selfie area, 20 feet of glass periphery are some attractive features of this Aquatic Kingdom. It is also home to various aquatic animals such as alligator gar ranging, stingrays, sharks, lobsters, snails, and shrimps.
The aquarium has been adorned with natural rocks and splashes of driftwood, artificial coral rocks.
As per a senior official, IRSDC has been entrusted with the mandate to undertake facility management at five railway stations—KSR Bengaluru, Pune, Anand Vihar, Chandigarh, and Secunderabad.
It is an effort to redefine passenger experience and set a benchmark in the development, redevelopment, operation, and maintenance of railway stations in India.
IRSDC is a joint venture company of Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), and Indian Railway Construction Limited (IRCON).
IRSDC is at the core of Indian Railways’ mission of transforming the country’s railway stations into world-class 24×7 hubs and is the nodal agency for the redevelopment of railway stations.
These redeveloped hubs will be called ‘Railopolis,’ as they will attract huge investment and business opportunities.
IRSDC will be undertaking facility management of 90 more stations in a phased manner.
(With inputs from ANI)
(Edited by Amrita Das and Pallavi Mehra. Map by Urvashi Makwana)
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