Lok Sabha Question No. 274 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Revamping/Redevelopment of Railway Stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Rajeev Bharadwaj, Shri K Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 274 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

REVAMPING/REDEVELOPMENT OF RAILWAY STATIONS UNDER AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME

†*274.  DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ: SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  railway  stations  being  revamped  under  the  Amrit Bharat  Station  Scheme  in  the  country  particularly  Kannur  Railway Station;
- (b) the total funds likely to be spent on the said scheme;
- (c) whether there has been any delay in the implementation of the said scheme;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  and  the  current  status  thereof  along  with  the reasons for the delay, if any;
- (e)  the  timeline  for  the  completion  of  the  project  at  Kannur  Railway Station;
- (f) whether more facilities are likely to be provided to Divyangjans and senior citizens at the stations under the said scheme; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (g) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)  TO  (g)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 274 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025 (a)  to  (g)  Kannur  railway  station,  located  in  the  state  of  Kerala,  has been identified  for  development  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme. For development works at Kannur station, tenders have been awarded and works have been taken up. Also, a number of passenger amenities works  have  been  carried  out  at  Kannur  railway  station  during  last three years which include provision of lift, escalator, public announcement  system,  solar  power  plant,  sewage  treatment  plant, improvement of water supply arrangements, etc. 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 for Divyangjans, sustainable and environment friendly station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities 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  35  stations  are  located  in  the state  of  Kerala.  The  names  of  stations  identified  for  development under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  in  the  state  of  Kerala  are  as following:

| State   |   No. of Amrit Stations | Names of Amrit 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 |

Development  /  upgradation  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 under Southern Railway. For this  zone,  an  allocation  of  Rs  1,098  Crores  (Revised  Estimate)  has been made for the financial year 2024-25 under Plan Head-53 and an expenditure of Rs 990 Crores has been incurred during 2024-25 (up to January, 2025).

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. Indian Railways is committed to make its railway stations accessible for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans) and passengers with reduced mobility as part of 'Sugamya Bharat Mission' or 'Accessible India Campaign' of Government of India. In compliance of the Rights of Persons  with  Disabilities  Act,  2016,  'Guidelines  on  accessibility  of Indian Railway stations and facilities at stations for differently abled persons  (Divyangjans)  and  passengers  with  reduced  mobility'  have been  circulated  and  notified  in  the  Gazette  of  India.  The  guidelines include  provisions  of  facilities  for  Divyangjans  and  passengers  with reduced  mobility  such  as  entrance  ramps,  accessible  parking,  low height  ticket  counters/help  booths,  toilets,  drinking  water  booths, subways/foot over bridges with ramps/lifts, standard signages including Braille signages and tactile pathways for visual impairment, etc.

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