Lok Sabha Question No. 284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Re-development of Railway Stations in West Bengal
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 284

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## RE-DEVELOPMENT OF RAILWAY STATIONS IN WEST BENGAL

284.   SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  planned  to  re-develop  the  existing railway stations to International standards in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the number  of  railway  stations identified for redevelopment in West Bengal so far;
- (d) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized for their redevelopment during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e) the details of the target set and achievements made so far?

## ANSWER

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 284 BY SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.11.2024 REGARDING RE-DEVELOPMENT OF RAILWAY STATIONS IN WEST BENGAL

(a)  to  (e)  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 centres at the station in the long term.

So  far  1337  station  have  been  identified  under  this  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 Stations | Name of 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, Joychandipahar, 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   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

The details of expenditure incurred for development and maintenance of  stations  are  maintained  Zonal  Railway-wise  under  Plan  Head-53 'Customer Amenities' and not work-wise or Station-wise or State wise. The  state  of  West  Bengal  is  covered  by  four  zones  viz.  Eastern Railway, Northeast Frontier Railway, South Eastern Railway and Metro Railway. During the last three years and in the current year i.e. 202425 (up to October, 2024), total Rs 3233.28 Crores has been allocated and  expenditure  of  Rs  2296.39  Crores  has  been  incurred  for  these zones.

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  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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