Lok Sabha Question No. 296 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar, Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 296

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME

296.  DR. K SUDHAKAR:

SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  has  launched  a  new  programme  called  Amrit  Bharat Station in the country including Karnataka, if so, the details thereof along with the basis on which the stations have been selected under the said scheme;
- (b) the details of railway stations identified in the Country particularly in the State of Andhra Pradesh under this scheme for development;
- (c) whether the Government has plans to upgrade the infrastructure at Doddaballapur and Channasandra stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  there  are  any  pending  proposals  before  the  railway  board  about developmental  works  at  Chikkaballapur  Lok  sabha  constituency  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (e) whether any new lines are being considered for the state of Karnataka and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  any  feasibility studies are being carried out on new  railway lines/extension  of  existing  lines  at  Chikkaballapur  parliamentary  constituency and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 296 BY DR. K SUDHAKAR AND SHRI Y  S  AVINASH  REDDY  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 24.07.2024 REGARDING AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME (a) to (c)  Ministry of Railways has launched the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' for development of Railway stations on Indian Railways. 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/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  ballastless  tracks  etc.,  as  per  necessity,  phasing  and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term. So far, 1324 stations have been selected under this scheme based on proposals  received  from  Zonal  Railways,  stations  located  in  major cities  and  towns.  Out  of  1324  stations,  73  stations  in  the  State  of

Andhra Pradesh and 59 stations including Doddaballapur and

Channasandra stations in the State of Karnataka have been identified for  development  under  the  scheme.  Tenders  have  been  awarded  at Doddaballapur  and  construction  of  platform  shelter,  foot  over  bridge and other building works have commenced. At Channasandra work has been taken up for construction of new station building.

However, development/redevelopment/upgradation of Railway Stations is  complex  in  nature  involving  safety  of  passengers  &  trains  and requires various statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree  cutting,  air-port  clearance  etc.  The  progress  also  gets  affected due  to  brown  field  related  challenges  such  as  shifting  of  utilities, (involving  water/sewage  lines,  optical  fibre  cables,  gas  pipe  lines, power/signal  cables  etc.,)  infringements,  operation  of  trains  without hindering  passenger  movement,  speed  restrictions  due  to  works carried  out  in  close  proximity  of  high  voltage  power  lines  etc.  and these factors affect the completion time. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated at this stage.

(d)  to  (f)  Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations,  both  formal and  informal  for  Railway  projects/  Works  across  the  country  are received  on  the  basis  of  demands  raised  by  State  Governments, Members  of  Parliament,  Ministries  of  Central  Government,  elected representatives, Railways' own requirements, organizations/ rail users etc., at  various  levels  including  Railway  Board,  Zonal  Railways, Division Office etc. As receipt of such Proposals requests/ suggestions/  representations  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic  process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time.

Railway  projects  are  taken  up  on  the  basis  of  remunerativeness, Railway's  own  operational    and  commercial  requirement,  technoeconomic  feasibility,  terrain,  obligatory  points,  demands  raised  by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament, other public representatives, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon  throw  forward  of  ongoing  projects  and  overall  availability  of funds which is a continuous and ongoing process.

As on 01.04.2024, total 31 projects (21 new lines and 10 Doubling) of 3,840 km length, costing ₹47,016 crore falling fully/partly in the State of  Karnataka  are  in  planning/approval/construction  stage.    These include:-

-  21  New  Line  Projects  of  total  length  2,556  km  at  a  cost  of ₹33,125 crore, out of which 395 Km length has been commissioned.
-  10  Doubling  Projects  of  total  length  1,284  km  at  a  cost  of ₹13,891 crore, out of which 907 Km length has been commissioned.

In  last  three  years  (i.e.  2021-2022,  2022-2023,  2023-24  and  current Financial Year i.e.    2024-25), total 53 Nos. of Surveys (18 New Line and 35 Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of Karnataka including Chikaballapur  Parliamentary  Constituency  having  a  total  length  of 5,713 Km have been sanctioned and survey work has been taken up. The surveys include inter-alia  survey  of  Chikaballapur  -  Gauribidanur New Line (44 Km).

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