Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country via video conferencing. The project, which is part of the ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’, aims to transform the stations into modern and passenger-friendly facilities with local culture and heritage as the theme.
The stations, which are spread across 27 states and union territories, will be redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 24,470 crore. The project will include installation of modern amenities such as escalators, lifts, digital signage, CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi, and solar panels. The project will also ensure well-designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration, and accessibility for differently-abled passengers.
The Prime Minister said that the redevelopment of railway stations is not only a matter of infrastructure development, but also a reflection of the aspirations and potential of the people. He said that the railway stations will become the centres of economic and social activities in the cities and towns. He also said that the project will generate employment opportunities and boost local businesses.
The Prime Minister also praised the Indian Railways for its role in serving the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that the railways has transported essential goods, oxygen, vaccines, and passengers across the country despite the challenges. He also lauded the railways for achieving several milestones such as electrification, speed enhancement, and safety improvement.
The ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’ was launched in December 2022 with an aim to redevelop 1,309 stations in a phased manner. The scheme is being implemented by the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) in collaboration with various stakeholders such as state governments, urban local bodies, public sector undertakings, and private partners.
The foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 stations was laid by the Prime Minister on Friday. Some of the prominent stations in the list are Cuttack and Puri in Odisha, Muzaffarpur and Bapudham Motihari in Bihar, Shornur and Kasargod in Kerala, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar in Assam, among others. The design of each station will be inspired by the local culture, heritage, and architecture of the region.