Lok Sabha Question No. 233 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Number of Stations Identified under Amrit Bharat Scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 233

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## NUMBER OF STATIONS IDENTIFIED UNDER AMRIT BHARAT SCHEME

*233 SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  stations  identified  and  funds  allocated  under Amrit Bharat Station scheme, State-wise;
- (b)  the  timeline  for  completion  of  the  development/redevelopment  of all 1318 identified stations including phase-wise target if applicable;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  expand  the  number  of  eligible stations in the future;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  have  special  facilities  for Divyangjan and plans to employ environment friendly and sustainable solutions and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)    the  time  by  which  the  scheme is  likely  to  be  implemented  along with the criteria for selection of railway stations under this scheme?

## 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 STARRED QUESTION NO. 233 BY SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI AND DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.08.2024  REGARDING  NUMBER  OF  STATIONS  IDENTIFIED  UNDER AMRIT BHARAT SCHEME (a)  to  (f)    Ministry  of  Railways  has  recently  launched  Amrit  Bharat Station scheme. This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. This scheme 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. The details of allocation of funds for development and maintenance of stations  including  for  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  are  maintained Zonal Railway-wise under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities' and not station-wise,  district-wise  or  State-wise.  Total  funds  allocated  under

Plan Head-53 to Zonal Railways for the current Financial Year i.e. in 2024-25, is ₹15510.75 crores. Indian Railways is committed to make its railway stations accessible for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) as part of 'Sugamya Bharat Mission' or 'Accessible India Campaign' of Government of India. The guidelines  for  accessibility  of  Indian  Railways  stations  have  been notified  in  the  official  Gazette  of  India.  These  guidelines  include provisions  of  Divyangjan  related  facilities  such  as  entrance  ramps, accessible  parking,  low  height  ticket  counter/help  booths,  toilets, drinking  water  booth,  sub-ways/foot  over  bridges  with  ramps/lifts, standard signages including Braille signages and tactile pathways for visual impairment etc. Upgradation/modernization  and  commissioning  of  stations  including development work for Divyangjan on Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds. 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  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.

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