Lok Sabha Question No. 163 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 163 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026

## AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME FOR TAMIL NADU

- *163. THIRU DAYANIDHI MARAN:
- THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  stations  identified  for  redevelopment  under  Amrit Bharat  Station  Scheme  (ABSS)  across  the  country  since  its  inception and the total number of stations completed as on 1st January, 2026;
- (b) whether the Southern Railway is undertaking redevelopment of railway stations  in  Tamil  Nadu  under  the  said  scheme  and  if  so,  the  total number of stations covered and the present status of works therein;
- (c)  whether  redevelopment  works  at  Park,  Guindy,  Chennai  Beach,  and Guduvanchery  railway  stations  are  nearing  completion  and  if  so,  the details  thereof  and  the  timeline  by  when  the  remaining  stations  are expected to be completed;
- (d)  the  details  of  passenger  amenities  being  provided  under  the  scheme including lifts, escalators, toilets, improved platforms, safety measures, accessibility facilities for differently abled and senior citizens and lastmile connectivity support;
- (e) the details of the total funds allocated/released and utilised under the
- said scheme, State and zone-wise; and
- (f)  whether  issues  such  as  parking  space  shortage  and  commuters inconvenience  during  construction  work  pertaining  to  redevelopment have  been  reported  and  if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to address the same and ensure timely completion of the projects?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO. 163 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026 IN LOK SABHA

(a)  to  (f)  Ministry  of  Railways  has  launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for redevelopment of stations. So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development  under  this  scheme  and  works  have  been  completed  at  172 stations.

In Tamil Nadu, 77 stations including Chennai Beach, Chennai Park, Guindy and Guduvancheri, have been identified for development under this scheme. The  names  of  stations  identified  for  development  under  Amrit  Bharat Station Scheme in Tamil Nadu are as following:

| State      |   No. of Stations | Name of Stations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu |                77 | Ambasamudram, Ambattur, Arakkonam Jn, Ariyalur, Avadi, Bommidi, Chengalpattu Jn, Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Chrompet, Coimbatore Jn, Coimbatore North, Coonoor, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Erode Jn., Guduvancheri, Guindy, Gummidipundi, Hosur, Jolarpettai Jn, Kanniyakumari Terminus, Karaikkudi Jn, Karur Jn, Katpadi Jn, Kovilpatti, Kulitturai, Kumbakonam, Lalgudi, Madurai Jn, Mambalam, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Mayiladuturai Jn, Mettupalayam, Morappur, Nagercoil Jn, Namakkal, Palani, Paramakkudi, Perambur, Podanur Jn., Pollachi Jn, Polur, Pudukkottai, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central, Rajapalayam, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Salem, Samalpatti, Sholavandan, Srirangam, Srivilliputtur, St. Thomas Mount, Tambaram, Tenkasi, Thanjavur Jn, Thiruvarur Jn., Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli Jn, Tirupadripulyur, Tirupattur, Tiruppur, Tirusulam, Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tuticorin, Udagamandalam, Vellore Cantt., Villupuram Jn., Virudhunagar, Vriddhachalam Jn. |

Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in  Tamil  Nadu have been taken up at a good pace. Till now, works of 19 stations (Bommidi, Chennai Park, Chidambaram, Chinna Salem, Karaikkudi Jn, Kulitturai, Manaparai, Mannargudi, Morappur, Pollachi Jn, Polur, Samalpatti, Sholavandan,  Srirangam,  Srivilliputtur,  St.  Thomas  Mount, Thiruvarur  Jn.,  Tiruvannamalai,  Vriddhachalam  Jn.)  in  Tamil  Nadu  have been completed under this scheme. The works at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of above stations is as given below:

-  Chennai Beach station: The works of improvement of platform shelter at platform no. 1 to 8 and improvement of stairs flooring of Foot Over Bridge have been completed. The works of improvement of concourse building, platform surfacing of platform no. 1 to 6, Integrated Passenger Information System and lighting have been taken up.
-  Guindy station: The works of improvement of platform shelter, toilet block, parking at GST road side and 3 nos. lifts have been completed. The works of improvement of station building, platform surface, new booking  office,  circulating  area,  Integrated  Passenger  Information System and lighting have been taken up.
-  Guduvancheri station: The works of improvement of platform shelter of platform no. 4/5 and platform surface of platform no. 1 & 2/3 have been  completed.  The  works  of  improvement  of  station  building, canopy, toilet, circulating area, parking at Villupuram end, Integrated Passenger Information System, lighting and lift have been taken up.
-  Mayiladuturai  Junction station: The  works  of  new  toilet  block, signages, platform shelter, parking shelter, entrance arch, exit arch, terminal  building  extension  with  portico,  extended  concourse,  AC waiting hall, improvements  to platform surface and Divyangjan facilities  like  ramp,  low  height  ticket  counter,  help  booth,  toilets, tactile pathway etc. have been completed. The works of improvement of  circulating  area,  landscaping,  water  cubicles,  6  m  Foot  Over Bridge, lifts and escalators have been taken up.
- 
- Kumbakonam station: The work for soil investigation for main station building and 3 m Foot Over Bridge has been completed. The works for

demolition of infringing building, site clearing, extension of platform no. 4 and circulating area have been taken up.

Further,  development  /  redevelopment  /  upgradation  /  modernisation  of stations including provision for lifts, escalators, toilets, platforms on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of  funds.  The  priority  for  development  /  redevelopment  /  upgradation  / modernisation  of  stations  is  accorded  to  higher  category  of  station  over lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the works.

Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme  envisages  development  of  stations  on  a continuous basis with a long-term approach.

The scheme involves preparation of master plans and their implementation in phases to improve the stations. The master planning includes:

-  Improvement of access to station and circulating areas
-  Integration of station with both sides of city
-  Improvement of station building
-  Improvement  of  waiting  halls,  toilets,  sitting  arrangement,  water booths
-  Provision of wider foot over bridge/air concourse commensurate with passenger traffic
-  Provision of lift/escalators/ramp
-  Improvement /Provision of platform surface and cover over platforms
-  Provision  of  kiosks  for  local  products  through  schemes  like  'One Station One Product'
-  Parking areas, Multimodal integration
-  Amenities for Divyangjans
-  Better passenger information systems
-  Provision of executive lounges, nominated  spaces  for business meetings,  landscaping,  etc.  keeping  in  view  the  necessity  at  each station.

The scheme also envisages 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.

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, airport 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.

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.

Suggestions  /  Representations,  both  formal  and  informal  for  Railway projects / Works across the country are received on the basis of demands raised by State Governments, Members of Parliament, Ministries of Central Government, elected representatives, Railways' own requirements, organizations  /  rail  users  etc.,  at  various  levels  including  Railway  Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. Receipt of such suggestions / representations  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic  process  and  these  are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time.

Indian Railways has a well established mechanism to monitor implementation  of  projects  including  their  reviews,  inspection,  check  for safety, quality of works and audits. Works are carried out adhering to the standards  and  specifications  laid  down  in  various  codes  and  manuals. Inspections/audits/checks  are  carried  out  from  time  to  time  by  various agencies/officials/multi-disciplinary  teams  as  per  laid  down  instructions and actions for correction are taken immediately. This is a continuous and ongoing process.

Development  /  Upgradation  /  Modernization  of  stations  including  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 Tamil Nadu is covered under the jurisdiction of two railway zones, namely, Southern Railway and South Western Railway. For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 1,697 crore has been made for the financial year  2025-26,  out  of  which  an  expenditure  (up  to  December,  2025)  of ₹1,360 crore has been incurred so far.

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