Lok Sabha Question No. 2935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-20
Subject: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Assam
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2935

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2023

## AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME IN ASSAM

## 2935.SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the number of major railway stations that have been modernised along with the number of railway stations proposed to be modernised in Assam especially in backward and rural areas;
- (b)  the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized for its modernisation so far along with the target fixed for modernisation of stations;
- (c)whether the Government  has conducted quality checks of modernisation  works  carried  out  at  major  railway  stations  of  the country especially in Assam;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government found the works to be of substandard quality and if so, the action taken in this regard; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  is  considering to  make  the  passenger amenities  better  at  the  railway  stations  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2935 BY SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH TO BE  ANSWERED IN  LOK SABHA ON  20.12.2023 REGARDING AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME IN ASSAM

(a)  to  (f):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat Station scheme'  for  development  of  Stations  on  Indian  Railways.  So  far, 1309 number of railway stations including 50 railway stations in the State of Assam have been identified for development/redevelopment under this scheme.

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 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,  'Roof  Plazas'  as  per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centres at the station in the long term.

The  allocation  of  funds  and  expenditure  for  development  and maintenance of stations are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not State-wise/UT-wise  or  Station-wise,  generally  under  Plan  Head-53 'Customer Amenities'.  During the year 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-

23, total ₹6737.97 crore expenditure has been incurred under Plan Head-53 and the allocation for the current year is ₹13,355 crore. 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, airport clearance etc. The progress  also  gets  affected  due  to  brown  field  related  challenges such  as  shifting  of  utilities,  (involving  water/sewage  lines,  optical fiber 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. Indian  Railways  has  an  inbuilt  mechanism  to  check  the  quality  of works,  which  is  being  performed  at  various  levels  by  concerned Railway officials as per guidelines laid down in the Indian Railways Engineering Code, Indian Railways Works Manual and Specification etc.  and  the  works  meeting  the  laid  down  standards  only  are accepted.No major quality issues have been noted so far. The minor nature  of  inferior  quality  of  incidences  found  during  execution  is corrected then and there. Upgradation/modernization  of  stations  on  Indian  Railways  is  a continuous and on-going process. Works for improvement of passenger amenities are undertaken depending upon need, volume of  passenger  traffic  and  inter-se  priority,  subject  to  availability  of funds.

*****