Lok Sabha Question No. 3058 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Modernization Plan for Kharagpur Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. June Maliah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3058 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

## MODERNIZATION PLAN FOR KHARAGPUR RAILWAY STATION

3058.  SMT. JUNE MALIAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has proposed any expansion or modernization plan of Kharagpur Railway Station in West Bengal;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it includes upgradation of passenger amenities, infrastructure development and multi-model transport integration; and
- (d) if so, the details of the project including the budget and timeline for
- the same?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d) Kharagpur railway station located in the state of West Bengal has  been  identified  for  development  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme.  For  development  works  at  this  station,  tenders  have  been awarded  and  the  works  of  improvement  of  platform  surfacing  and platform shelters have been completed and the works of construction

of  new  station  building,  waiting  hall,  toilets,  provision  of  lifts  and escalators, improvement of circulating area, etc. have been taken up.

Amrit Bharat Station 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 stations have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, out of which 101 stations are located in the state of West Bengal. The names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of West Bengal are as following:

| State       |   No. of Amrit Stations | Names of Amrit Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| West Bengal |                     101 | Adra, Alipurduar Jn, Aluabari Road, Ambika Kalna, Anara, Andal Jn, Andul, Asansol Jn, Azimganj, Bagnan, Bally, Balurghat, Bandel Jn, Bangaon Jn, Bankura, Barabhum, Barasat, Barddhaman, Barrackpore, Belda, Berhampore Court, Bethuadahari, Bhaluka Road, Binnaguri, Bishnupur, Bolpur Shantiniketan, Burnpur, Canning, Chandan nagar, Chandpara, Chandrakona Road, Dalgaon, Dalkhola, Dankuni, Dhulian Ganga, Dhupguri, Digha, Dinhata, DumDum Jn, Falakata, Garbeta, Gede, Haldia, Haldibari, Harishchandrapur, Hasimara, Hijli, Howrah, Jalpaiguri, Jalpaiguri Road, Jangipur Road, Jhalida, Jhargram, Joychandi pahar, Kaliyaganj, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kalyani Jn, Kamakhyaguri, Katwa Jn, Khagraghat Road, Kharagpur, Kolkata, Krishnanagar City Jn, Kumedpur, Madhukunda, Madhyamgram, Malda Court, Malda Town, Mecheda, Midnapore, Nabadwip Dham, Naihati Jn, New Alipurduar, New Cooch Behar, New Farakka, New Jalpaiguri, New Mal Jn, Ondagram, Panagarh, Pandabeswar, Panskura, Purulia Jn, Rampurhat, Ranaghat, Sainthia Jn, Salboni, Samsi, |

| Santragachi, Sealdah, Shalimar, Shantipur, Sheoraphuli Jn, Siliguri, Sitarampur, Siuri, Sonarpur Jn, Suisa, Tamluk, Tarakeswar, Tulin, Uluberia   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Development / upgradation / modenisation of stations including under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities'. The details of allocation and expenditure under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise or state-wise. The state of West Bengal is covered under four  zones  viz.  Eastern  Railway,  Northeast  Frontier  Railway,  South Eastern Railway and Metro railway. For these zones, an allocation of Rs  1,450  Crores  (Revised  Estimate)  has  been  made  for  the  financial year 2024-25 under Plan Head-53.

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,  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.

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