Lok Sabha Question No. 4242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Upgradation of Amritsar Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4242 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## UPGRADATION OF AMRITSAR RAILWAY STATION

4242. SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the current infrastructure is inadequate to handle increasing footfall efficiently in Amritsar Railway Station;
- (b) whether there is an urgent need to modernize the station with worldclass  amenities,  improved  passenger  facilities,  enhanced  security, visually appealing structure that reflects heritage city;
- (c) whether any request has been received to grant a special  financial package for comprehensive upgradation to boost tourism;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) proposed timeline, budget allocation for the said project; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  considers  to  provide  special  grant  for transformation of Amritsar Railway Station into a world-class facility, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f): 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.

…2/..

Amritsar  Railway   Station   has   8 nos.  high  level  platforms,   3 Foot Over   Bridges,   waiting  hall,   platform   shelters,   parking    cum circulating  area   with   lighting,    adequate    seating    arrangement, resting     facilities     for     passengers     and      toilet     block     etc.

In      recent      years,  construction  of  platform  shelter  work,  work  of additional  drinking  water  taps,  additional  seating  arrangement  and water cooler have been executed at Amritsar railway station.

Ministry of Railway has identified Amritsar Railway station as one of the stations  for  redevelopment  under  '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 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 30 stations including Amritsar railway station are located  in the state of Punjab.  The  list of station identified for development in the state of Punjab are as follows:

|   SN | State   |   Count | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|------|---------|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Punjab  |      30 | Abohar, Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Beas, Bhatinda Jn, Dhandari Kalan, Dhuri, Fazilka, Firozpur Cantt, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar Cantt., Jalandhar City, Kapurthala, Kotkapura, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Nangal Dam, Pathankot Cantt., Pathankot City, Patiala, Phagwara, Phillaur, Rup Nagar, Sangrur, SASN Mohali, Sirhind |

Out of these 30 stations, the development works have been taken up on 25 stations.

Master planning of Amritsar Railway station has already been taken up. Master planning and project preparation is an iterative process requiring optimization and the details and time frame of such optimization cannot be indicated at this stage.

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'. Amritsar railway station in Punjab falls under  Northern  Railway  Zone  and  the  fund  allocation  to  Northern Railway for development and maintenance of stations under Plan Head53  'Customer  Amenities',  for  the  year  2024-25  is  ₹1531  Cr.  (Revised Estimate).

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