New Delhi: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 Railway Stations across the country via video conferencing.
These stations, renovated at an estimated expenditure of more than Rs 24,470 crores, are spread across 27 states and union territories. This includes 55 stations each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37 in West Bengal, 34 in Madhya Pradesh, 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 15 in Haryana, and 13 in Karnataka among others.
Almost 1300 railway stations across the country are set to undergo redevelopment as part of the “Amrit Bharat Stations” initiative. Out of the 1300 railway stations, the foundation stone for 508 Amrit Bharat Stations was laid at the cost of approx Rs 25,000 crores.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi emphasized that the redevelopment project will be a huge campaign for infrastructure development in the country along with the railways as well as the common citizens. Noting that its benefits will be spread to all states in the country, the Prime Minister mentioned that 55 Amrit Stations will be developed at the cost of approx Rs 4,000 crores in Uttar Pradesh, and in Rajasthan also 55 stations will become Amrit Stations, 34 stations in Madhya Pradesh at the cost of approx Rs 1,000 crores, 44 stations in Maharashtra at the cost of 1,500 crores, and prime railway stations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala among others will be redeveloped.
Railway expansion in the Northeast is progressing rapidly, with significant efforts being made to double the lines, convert gauges, electrify the system, and establish new routes. The primary objective is to modernize Indian Railways and make it more environmentally friendly. The government aims to achieve 100 percent electrification of rail lines in the near future, enabling all trains in India to run solely on electricity. Over the past 9 years, the number of stations generating electricity from solar panels has risen to over 1200. Furthermore, there is a strong focus on producing green energy from every railway station in the coming years. To enhance sustainability, LED lights have been installed in approximately 70,000 coaches, and the number of bio-toilets in trains has increased by 28 times since 2014. The construction of all Amrit stations will adhere to green building standards. With these measures in place, India’s railway network is set to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
The redevelopment aims to enhance the passenger experience by incorporating modern amenities, convenient traffic flow, seamless integration with different modes of transportation, and clear signage for passenger guidance. Additionally, the design of the station buildings will be influenced by the local culture, heritage, and architecture, creating a professional, engaging, and informative atmosphere.
