Lok Sabha Question No. 1109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Redevelopment Plan of Stations/Lines in West Bengal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1109 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

REDEVELOPMENT PLAN OF STATIONS/LINES IN WEST BENGAL 1109. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  present  status  of  the  redevelopment  plan  and  expansion  of railway stations in West Bengal;
- (b) the details of allocation of funds for the stations determined under the said scheme;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal for new railway lines in West Bengal; and
- (d) if so, the details of the work progress on the said stations/lines?

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1109 BY SHRI KHAGEN MURMU TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  26.07.2023  REGARDING REDEVELOPMENT PLAN OF STATIONS/LINES IN WEST BENGAL (a)  &  (b):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched  'Amrit  Bharat  Station Scheme' for development of Stations on Indian Railways. This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term approach. So far, 98 number of stations have been identified for development in the State of West Bengal. The 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  WiFi,  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 solutions, provision of ballast less tracks, 'Roof Plazas' as per necessity phasing and feasibility  and  creation  of  city  centres  at  the  station  in  the  long for 'Divyangjans' sustainable and environment friendly term.

The  details  of  allocation  of  funds  for  modernisation/upgradation  of stations are maintained zonal Railway-wise under Plan-Head-53 'Customer Amenities' and not work-wise or Station-wise. There are 04 railway zones, viz. Eastern Railway, Northeast Frontier Railway, South Eastern Railway and Metro Railway which cater to the State of West Bengal.  The  details  of  funds  allocated  to  these  railway  zones  for development and maintenance under Plan Head-53 'Customer Amenities'  for  the  year  2023-24  is ₹ 168.90Cr, ₹ 148.07Cr, ₹ 168.32Cr and 16.06 Cr respectively. (c) & (d): Railway projects are sanctioned and executed Zonal Railway wise  and  not  State-wise  as  Railway  projects  may  span  across  State boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2023, 16 new line projects    costing ₹ 25,362 Cr. covering total length of 1,538 Km falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal are in planning/sanction/construction state, out of which  731  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure 12,931 cr. has been incurred upto March, 2023.

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