Railway Redevelopment Revolution: Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Lay Foundation Stone For 508 Stations On 6 August

On Sunday (6 August), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will use video conferencing to lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country.

This initiative was announced by the Prime Minister's Office.

One of Prime Minister Modi's priorities is to improve public transportation by providing modern facilities. He has consistently emphasised the importance of state-of-the-art public transport systems, reports Economic Times.

Recognising that railways is the preferred mode of transportation for people nationwide, Prime Minister Modi has stressed the need to offer world-class amenities at railway stations. This will enhance the overall travel experience for passengers.

The Prime Minister is laying the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 stations, as part of a scheme. The cost for this redevelopment is over Rs 24,470 crore.

Master Plans are being prepared to develop these stations as 'City Centres', integrating both sides of the city. This integrated approach aligns with the holistic vision for urban development, with a focus on the railway station.

The 508 stations to be redeveloped are located in 27 states and union territories.

Among these, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have 55 stations each, Bihar has 49, Maharashtra has 44, West Bengal has 37, Madhya Pradesh has 34, Assam has 32, Odisha has 25, Punjab has 22, Gujarat and Telangana have 21 each, Jharkhand has 20, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have 18 each, Haryana has 15, and Karnataka has 13, among others.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims to revamp and improve the infrastructure of selected railway stations in India.

The scheme aims to upgrade and modernise 1,309 railway stations on Indian Railways network.

The main objectives of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme are to enhance station infrastructure, integrate stations with urban areas, improve multimodal connectivity, and provide accessible facilities for specially-abled individuals.

The scheme emphasises sustainability and eco-friendliness by implementing ballast-less tracks as needed. It also considers the specific requirements, phasing, and feasibility of each station, as well as the establishment of city centres around the stations in the long term.

In addition to the aforementioned goals, the scheme includes improving amenities such as station access, waiting halls, toilets, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, and local product kiosks. It also aims to enhance passenger information systems, provide executive lounges and designated spaces for business meetings, and incorporate landscaping.