Lok Sabha Question No. 3737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3737

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME FOR KERALA

3737 SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN: ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the timeline for the complete implementation of the Amrit Bharat Station scheme across all identified stations in Kerala;
- (b)  the  number of stations upgraded so far under the said scheme in Palakkad division and the criteria followed for selecting these stations;
- (c)  the  status  of  the  redevelopment  works  of  Varkala,  Sivagiri  and Chiraylnkeezhu railway stations in Thiruvananthapuram Division under the said scheme;
- (d)  whether  any  railway  stations  like  Kanhangad,  Nileswaram  from Kasargod has been included in the second phase of the said scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details of works completed, funds provided and utilized for the redevelopment works for each stations; and
- (f) the expected time of completion of these projects?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (f)  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  station  have  been  identified  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme, out of which 35 stations are located in the state of Kerala. Stations are identified based  on  proposals  received from Zonal Railways,  stations  located  in  major  cities  and  towns.  In  Palakkad Division of Southern Railway, 18 railway stations have been identified under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme,  out  of  which  14  stations  are located in the state of Kerala. The names of 35 stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Kerala are as following:

| State   |   No. of Stations | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|---------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Kerala  |                35 | Alappuzha, Angadippuram, Angamali For Kaladi, Chalakudi, Changanassery, Chengannur, Chirayinkeezh, Ernakulam, Ernakulam Town, Ettumanur, Ferok, Guruvayur, Kannur, Kasargod, Kayankulam, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kuttippuram, Mavelikara, Neyyatinkara, Nilambur Road, Ottappalam, Parappanangadi, Payyanur, Punalur, Shoranur Jn, Thalassery, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrisur, Tirur, Tiruvalla, Tripunithura, Vadakara, Varkala Sivagiri, Wadakancheri |

Tenders for  development works have been awarded and works have been  taken  up  for  33  Amrit  stations,  including  Verkala  Sivagiri, Chirayinkeezh and Kasargod stations, located in the state of Kerala. At  Verkala  Sivagiri  station,  works  of  construction  of  air  concourse, main  station  building,  parking  area,  etc.  have  been  taken  up.  At Chirayinkeezh  station,  works  of  improvement  of  waiting  hall  and parking  area  have  been  completed  and  works  of  additional  platform shelters,  improvement  of  concourse,  platform  surfacing,  circulating area,  entrance  porch,  etc.  have  been  taken  up.  At  Kasargod  station, works of raising  of  platform  no.  3,  improvement  of  parking  area  and erection  of  high  mast  light  have  been  completed  and  works  for extension of platform shelter, raising of platform no. 1, provision of lift, improvement of station building, porch, platform surfacing, etc. have been taken up.

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

- At  Kollam  station,  service  building  work  has  been  completed. Structural works  of multi-level car parking, south side terminal building  (Block-A&B)  and  parcel  building  have  been  completed  and works  of  south  side  terminal  building  (Block-C),  air  concourse,  Foot Over Bridge, platform improvement, platform shelters, etc. have been taken up.
- At  Kuttippuram  station,  works  of  improvement  of  circulating area, parking area, waiting hall, construction of new platform shelters, new  porch  and  entry  ramp  have  been  completed  and  work  of improvement of booking office has been taken up.
- At Thalassery station, works of improvement of concourse area, booking office, parking areas, construction of new platform shelters, porch  and  covered  walkway  have  been  completed  and  work  of circulating area has been taken up.
- At Ferok Station, works of improvement of waiting room, seating arrangement, raising  of  platform  no.  1,  construction  of  new  platform shelter  and  new  toilet  block  have  been  completed  and  works  of parking area at main entry side, lifts, improvement of concourse area, booking office, etc. have been taken up.
- At  Shoranur  Station,  works  of  construction  of  new  Foot  Over Bridge,  platform  shelters,  waiting  halls,  toilet  block,  improvement  of concourse, porch, circulating area and parking area  have  been completed and works of architectural improvement of station building have been taken up.

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.

Development / upgradation / modenisation 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  Kerala  is  covered  by  Southern  Railway.  For this  zone,  an  allocation  of  Rs  1,383  Crores  has  been  made  for  the financial  year  2024-25  under  Plan  Head-53  and  an  expenditure  of  Rs 620 Crores has been incurred during 2024-25 (up to October, 2024).

*****