Lok Sabha Question No. 187 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Redevelopment of Tirunelveli Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Robert Bruce C

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 187 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## REDEVELOPMENT OF TIRUNELVELI STATION

*187. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the plans of  the Government for the redevelopment of Tirunelveli  Railway Station;

(b)  the  total  amount  of  funds  allocated    for  the  redevelopment  of  the said railway station;

- (c) the current status of the  redevelopment of this railway station; and

(d) the expected date of completion of the project ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 187 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON

12.03.2025 (a) to (d): The project for redevelopment of Tirunelveli Railway Station falling in the state of Tamil Nadu, has been sanctioned for a total cost of ₹99.84 crore under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The Master plan of Tirunelveli station envisage East and West terminal buildings, spacious foot over bridge, upgradation of platforms, parcel office, RMS office, circulating area and surface parking etc. Tiruvelveli station has an average daily footfall of approximately 35,000 passengers. Upgradation/Modernisation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken  as  per  requirement,  inter-se  priority,  availability  of  funds etc. In recent years, construction of platform shelter work, provision of pay & use toilet, cycle & scooter parking work, provision of prefabricated toilets at circulating area, provision of recycling plant, improvement to platform  &  concourse  surface  works,  provision  of  monumental  flag and quick watering system for coaches at platform work, have been executed at Tirunelveli railway station. This Amrit Bharat Station Scheme envisages development of stations 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 on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. It 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 such 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,  etc.  as  per  necessity,  phasing  and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term. So far, 1337 Nos. of Stations have been identified under this scheme, out  of  which  77  stations  including  Tirunelveli  station  are  located  in the state of Tamil Nadu. Out of these 77 stations,  the  development works have been taken up on 71 stations. The details of allocation of funds for development and maintenance of stations  are  maintained  Zonal  Railway-wise  and  not  Work-wise  or Station-wise.  Passenger  amenities  are  generally  funded  under  Plan Head-53  'Customer  Amenities'.  Tirunelveli  railway  station  in  Tamil Nadu  falls  under  Southern  Railway  Zone  and  the  fund  allocation  to Southern Railway for development and maintenance of stations under Plan  Head-53  'Customer  Amenities',  for  the  year  (RE  2024-25)  is ₹1097.90 Cr.

Further, development/re-development/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,  airport  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, encroachments, 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 .

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