Rani Kamlapati in brief
Rani Kamlapati railway station (station code RKMP), known until 2021 as Habibganj railway station, is Bhopal's showcase station and a landmark in Indian railway modernisation. It was the first railway station in India to be redeveloped under a public–private partnership (PPP), and the first world-class station in Madhya Pradesh. It comes under the West Central Railway zone's Bhopal division, about 7 km from Bhopal Junction.
History and renaming
- 1920: Habibganj station opens (code HBJ).
- 1969: the station is rebuilt.
- 2010s: it is chosen for India's first PPP station redevelopment, carried out by Bansal Pathways Habibganj Private Limited.
- 15 November 2021: the redeveloped station is inaugurated.
- November 2021: it is renamed in honour of Rani Kamlapati, the Gond queen of the Bhopal region, and the code changes from HBJ to RKMP.
An airport-style station
The redevelopment was inspired by Heidelberg station in Germany and gave Rani Kamlapati facilities more often seen at airports:
- An air-conditioned lobby and concourse
- A large covered parking area
- 24×7 power backup and drinking water
- Plans for a convention centre, a hotel and a super-speciality hospital in the station complex
It is ISO certified and holds a GEM 5-star rating in GEM Sustainability Certification for green buildings.
Tracks and platforms at Rani Kamlapati
The station has 5 platforms on 6 tracks, around 496 m above sea level, on the Delhi–Chennai main line and the Bhopal–Nagpur section.
Trains at Rani Kamlapati
Many of Bhopal's premium services use Rani Kamlapati, including Shatabdi Express, Vande Bharat Express, Humsafar Express and Jan Shatabdi Express services. Shatabdi and Vande Bharat timings for RKMP are on our train schedule page.
Reaching Rani Kamlapati
- Bhopal Metro Orange Line: serves the station area.
- Road: city buses, autos and app cabs; the station is in the newer, southern part of the city, near MP Nagar.
Using Rani Kamlapati
- Old tickets, maps and timetables may still say Habibganj (HBJ); it is the same station.
- Check whether your train uses RKMP or Bhopal Junction (BPL); they are 7 km apart.