Lok Sabha Question No. 3898 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Conversion of Rajgir Railway Station into World-class Smart Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3898 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## CONVERSION OF RAJGIR RAILWAY STATION INTO WORLDCLASS SMART RAILWAY STATION

†3898.   SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of world class railway stations in the country;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to develop the Rajgir Railway Station in Nalanda into a world class smart railway station;
- (c)  whether Rajgir is a world famous tourist place and tourists from all over the world visit this place throughout the year; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by  which approval  is  likely  to  be  accorded  to  develop  Rajgir  Railway Station into Smart Railway Station?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): 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, 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 centre at the station in the long term.

So  far,  1337  Nos.  of  Stations  have  been  identified  under  this scheme,  out  of  which  98  stations  including  Rajgir  station  are located in the state of Bihar. The names of stations identified for  development  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  in  the states of Bihar are as following:

| State   |   No. of Amrit Stations | Names of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Bihar   |                      98 | Anugraha Narayan Road, Ara, Arariya Court, Bakhtiyarpur, Banka, Banmankhi, BapudhamMotihari, Barahiya, Barauni, Barh, Barsoi Jn, Begusarai, Bettiah, Bhabua Road, Bhagalpur, Bhagwanpur, Bihar Sharif, Bihiya, Bikramganj, Buxar, Chakia, Chausa, Chhapra, Dalsingh Sarai, Darbhanga, DauramMadhepura, Dehri On Sone, Dholi, Dighwara, Dumraon, Durgauti, Ekma, Fatuha, Gaya, Ghorasahan, Guraru, Hajipur Jn, Jamalpur, Jamui, Janakpur Road, Jaynagar, Jehanabad, Jhanjharpur, Kahalgaon, Karhagola Road, Katihar, Khagaria Jn, Kishanganj, Kudra, Labha, Laheria Sarai, Luckeesarai, Lakhminia, Madhubani, Maheshkhunt, Mairwa, Mansi Jn, Mashrakh, Mokama, Motipur, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Nabinagar Road, Narkatiaganj, Naugachia, Nawadah, Paharpur, Patliputra, Patna, Piro, Pirpainti, Rafiganj, Raghunathpur, Rajendra Nagar, Rajgir, Ram Dayalu Nagar, Raxaul, Sabaur, Sagauli, Saharsa, Sahibpur Kamal, Sakri, Salauna, Salmari, Samastipur, Sasaram, |

Shahpur Patoree, Shivanarayanpur, SimriBakhtiyarpur, Simultala, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Sonpur Jn., Sultanganj, Supaul, Taregna, Thakurganj, Thawe.

Tenders  for  development  works  have  been  awarded  and works  have  been  taken  up  for  86  Amrit  stations  including Rajgir station located in the state of Bihar. At Rajgir Railway Station,  station  approach  road  work  has  been  completed  and works for construction of new station building,  improvement  of parking area and circulating area along with drainage work have been  taken  up.  Other  projects  have  exhibited  good  pace  of execution. For example:-

-  At  Gaya  station,  structural  works  of  West  side  departure and arrival  building,  East  side  departure  building,  East  side pilgrimage building and multi-level two-wheeler parking have been  completed  and  works  of  construction  of  concourse, new platform shelters, etc. have been taken up.
-  At Muzaffarpur station, structural works of new Combined Terminal Building, South side arrival block building, booking counters, office buildings have been completed and works of construction  of  new  Foot  Over  Bridge,  departure  block, elevated roads, etc. have been taken up.

- At Saharsa station, structural works of new station building including new waiting hall and toilet block, improvement of parking  area  and  entrance  gate  have  been  completed  and works  of  construction  of  new  12  m  wide  Foot  Over  Bridge, boundary  wall,  new  platform  shelters,  electrical  works  of
-  building, etc. have been taken up.
-  At Salauna station, structural works of new station building, circulating  area,  parking  area,  road  work  and  raising  of platform no. 2 have been completed and works of construction  of  new  12  m  Foot  Over  Bridge,  raising  of platform no. 1, etc. have been taken up.

Further,  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 pipelines, 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.

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 Head53  are  maintained  Zonal  Railway-wise  and  not  work-wise  or station-wise or State-wise. The state of Bihar is covered by four zones viz. Eastern Railway, East Central Railway, North Eastern  Railway  and  Northeast  Frontier  Railway.  During  the last two  financial years and in the current financial year, allocation  of  ₹  4,288  Crores  has  been  made  for  these  zones. Expenditure of ₹ 2,948 Crores has been incurred during last two financial years and in the current financial year i.e. 2024-25 (up to October, 2024) for these zones.

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