Lok Sabha Question No. 4306 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Upgradation of Railway Stations as Smart Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ajay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4306 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## UPGRADATION OF RAILWAY STATIONS AS SMART STATIONS † 4306. SHRI AJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  develop  the  existing  railway stations  across  the  country  as  per  international  standards,  if  so,  the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the number  of  railway stations in the country particularly in Uttarakhand  and  border  areas  identified  for  updradation  as  smart stations;
- (c) the details of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised for redevelopment of all railway stations, particularly in Uttarakhand during the last three years, year/State-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has set any target for the said redevelopment works; and
- (e) the number of railway stations already upgraded or developed as the smart stations as per international standards during the last two years, year/State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (e):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme' for development of Stations. So far, 1337 Nos. of Stations across the country including 11 stations particularly in the State of Uttarakhand

have been identified under this scheme. A list of identified stations in the state of Uttarakhand is given below:

|   SN | State         |   Count | Name of Stations                                                                                                  |
|------|---------------|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Uttara- khand |      11 | Dehradun, Haridwar Jn., Harrawala, Kashipur, Kathgodam, Kichha, Kotdwar, Lalkuan Jn., Ramnagar, Roorkee, Tanakpur |

Out of these 11 stations, the development works have been taken up on 9 stations.The works at identified stations have been taken up with good  pace.  The  progress  at  some  of  the  above  stations  is  as  given below:

At  Lalkuan  station,  the  works  of  improvement  of  station  architecture, raising  &  surfacing  of  Platform  of  no.  4,  two  &  four-wheeler  parking, platform resurfacing and water booths have been completed. The works of renovation of waiting hall, improvement to circulating area, entrance/exit gate, toilet block, relocation platform shelters, construction of foot over bridge have been taken up.

At  Ramnagar  station,  the  works  of  toilet  block,  extension  of  PRS building,water  booths  andimprovement  to  parking  area  have  been completed. The works ofimprovement of station building, waiting rooms, improvement of circulating area and entranceporchhave been taken up.

At Kichha station, the works of raising & surfacing of platform no. 1 has been  completed.  The  works  of  renovation  of  existing  station  building, construction  of  new  station  building  with  UTS,  entrance/exit  gate, improvement to waiting hall, toilet Block andplatform shelter have been taken up.

At  Kashipur  Jn.  station,  the  works  of  platform  raising  of  PF  no.  1, improvement to circulating area, parking area have been completed. The works of improvement to station building, provision of lifts, toilet block and relocation of platform shelter and entrance porch have been taken up.

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

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.

The  details  of  allocation  and  expenditure  for  development    and maintenance of stations are maintained zonal Railway-wise and not state-wise or station-wise. Development  of  stations  and provision of Passenger amenities are   generally   funded   under   Plan   Head - 53  'Customer  Amenities'.   Uttarakhand    is    catered    by    two

Zonal  Railways  viz.  Northern  Railway  (NR)  and  North  Eastern Railway (NER). Total  funds  allocated  and  expenditure  incurred  on these Railway Zones for development and maintenance of stations under  Plan  Head-53  'Customer  Amenities'  during  the  last  three years and the current year(i.e. 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 202425 (till feb'2025) are ₹5405.12 Cr and ₹4293.07Cr respectively.

Further, development/re-development/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  fibre  cables,  gas  pipe  lines,  power/signal cables  etc.)  infringements,  encroachments,  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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