Scheme calls for Master Plans for implementation in phases
A total of 1,275 railway stations have been identified for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for the development of Indian Railway stations.
This update was given by the Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 30 Mar 2023.
This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach.
It involves preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift and escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’, better passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station.
The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballast less tracks, ‘Roof Plazas’ as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term.
The scheme is covering 55 stations in Karnataka, 87 in Gujarat, 123 in Maharashtra, 82 in Rajasthan, 49 in Assam, 4 in Tripura and 1 each in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
Budgetry funds are being used for developing stations under ‘Amrit Bharat Station scheme’. However, a miniscule number of stations are also being explored for development under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Rani Kamalapati Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh has been commissioned through PPP model, he said. fiinews.com
