Lok Sabha Question No. 3846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3846 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME FOR THOOTHUKUDI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU

3846. SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the funds allocated and utilised so far under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme in the country, State-wise;
- (b) the details of the funds allocated and utilised so far under the Amrit Bharat  Station  scheme  in  Tamil  Nadu  particularly  in  Thoothukudi district; and
- (c) the status of progress made under the scheme in railway stations selected in Thoothukudi district?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (c)  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  '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, platform surfacing and cover over platform, 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 centre at the station in the long term.

So far,  1337  stations  have  been  identified  under  this  scheme,  out  of which 77 stations, including three stations of Thoothukudi district viz. Tiruchendur, Kovilpatti and Tuticorin, are located in the state of Tamil Nadu.  The  names  of  stations  identified  for  development  under  Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Tamil Nadu are as following:

| State      |   No. of Amrit Stations | Names of Stations                                                                |
|------------|-------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu |                      77 | Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi, Chengalpattu Jn, |

| Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Chrompet, Coimbatore Jn, Coimbatore North, Coonoor, Dharmapuri, Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central, Erode Jn, Guduvancheri, Guindy, Gummidipundi, Hosur, Jolarpettai Jn, Kanniyakumari, Karaikkudi, Karur Jn, Katpadi, Kovilpatti, Kulitturai, Kumbakonam, Lalgudi, Madurai Jn, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Mayiladuturai Jn, Mettupalayam, Morappur, Nagercoil Jn, Namakkal, Palani, Paramakkudi, Perambur, Podanur Jn, Pollachi, Polur, Pudukkottai, Rajapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Salem, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St.Thomas Mount, Tambaram, Tenkasi, Thanjavur Jn, Thiruvarur Jn, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli Jn, Tirupadripulyur, Tirupattur, Tiruppur, Tirusulam, Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Udagamandalam, Vellore Cantt., Villupuram Jn, Virudhunagar, Vriddhachalam Jn, Dindigul, Tuticorin   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Tenders for  development works have been awarded and works have been taken up for 71 Amrit stations, including Tiruchendur, Kovilpatti and Tuticorin stations in Thoothukudi district, located in the state of Tamil Nadu. At Tiruchendur station, works of entrance gate, canopy, improvement of platform shelters, 4-wheeler parking, construction of lifts  and  provision  of  Integrated  Passenger  Information  System  have been  completed  and  works  of  construction  of  new  waiting  hall, dormitory,  improvement  of  2-wheeler  parking,  road  works,  etc.  have been taken up. At Kovilpatti station, works of entrance gate, 4-wheeler parking  and  provision  of  Integrated  Passenger  Information  System have  been  completed  and  works  of  construction  of  new  terminal building,  improvement  of  road  works,  2-wheeler  parking,  etc.  have been  taken  up.  At  Tuticorin  station,  works  of  construction  of  toilet block,  switch  room,  improvement  of  parking  area,  etc.  have  been taken up.

Other  projects  have  also  exhibited  good  pace  of  execution.  For example,

- At Madurai station, structural works of east side multi-level twowheeler  parking  and  electric  substation  have  been  completed  and works of east side terminal building, both sides multi-level car parking, air concourse, parcel Foot Over Bridge, subway, etc. have been taken up.
- At  Chennai  Egmore  station,  structural  work  of  parcel  building have been completed and works of both sides multi-level car parking, GI Road side terminal building, etc. have been taken up.
- At Samalpatti station, works  of construction  of  new  main terminal  building  and  main  entry  side  circulating  area  have  been

completed and works of second entry parking area, raising of platform, construction of compound wall, etc. have been taken up.

- At Karaikkudi Station, works of improvement of platform shelters,  seating  arrangement,  parking  area,  construction  of  new porch,  lifts  and  installation  of  coach  indication  boards  have  been completed. Structural works for waiting hall, entry and exit gates have been completed and works of circulating area, covered pathway, etc. have been taken up.
- At  Ariyalur  and  Mannargudi  stations,  works  of  construction  of new entry gates, entrance porch, improvement of circulating area with approach  road,  parking  area,    concourse  area,  booking  counters, platform  surface,  waiting  halls  and  platform  shelters  have  been completed.

Further,  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  brownfield  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 tracks and high voltage power lines, etc. and these factors affect the completion time. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated at this stage.

Upgradation/development/redevelopment of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are  undertaken  as  per  requirement,  subject  to  inter-se  priority  and availability of funds. However, priority for upgradation/ development/redevelopment of stations is accorded to higher category of  station  over  lower  category  of  station  while  sanctioning  and executing the works.

Provision  /  upgradation  of  passenger  amenities  and  development  of stations  including  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  is  generally funded  under  Plan  Head-53  'Customer  Amenities'.  The  details  of allocation under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or Station-wise or State-wise. The state of Tamil Nadu is  covered  by  two  zones  viz.  Southern  Railway  and  South  Western Railway.  During  the  last  three  financial  years  and  in  the  current financial year, allocation of Rs 4,313 Crores has been made for these zones.  Expenditure  of  Rs  2,506  Crores  has  been  incurred  during  the last three financial years and in the current financial year i.e. 2024-25 (up to October, 2024) for these zones.

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