Lok Sabha Question No. 1641 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for Chengannur Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1641 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME FOR CHENGANNUR RAILWAY STATION

1641. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH  :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the current status of the Chengannur Railway Station development project under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme;
- (b)  the  details  of  tendering,  award  of  tender,  and  commencement  of work along with the names of the contractors/agencies involved;
- (c)  the  details  of  estimated  project  cost,  funding  source  and  scope  of works approved under the said scheme;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  expected  timeline  for  completion  of  the  project; and
- (e) whether any delay/revision has been reported in implementation and, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (e):    Chengannur      railway  station        have    been      identified    for development  under  Amrit  Bharat  Station  Scheme.  The  process  for redevelopment work of Chengannur railway station has been taken up by Southern Railway at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 98.46 crores.

The redevelopment of Chengannur railway station envisages construction of new terminal building, pilgrim shelter, foot over bridge, 12 m  wide  roof  plaza,  platform  upgradation  including  platform  shelter, improvement  to  circulating  area  and  parking  space  etc.  The  tendering process for  the  redevelopment  of  Chengannur  railway  station  has  been taken up.

In recent years, improvements to pay and use toilets in circulating area, improvements to AC waiting hall as well as retiring rooms and replacement of damaged platform shelter roofing have been executed at Chengannur railway station.

35  stations  have  been  identified  for  development  under  Amrit  Bharat Station  Scheme  in  the  State  of  Kerala.  List  of  the  stations  is  given below:

| 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 Jn, Kollam Jn, Kozhikode, Kuttippuram, Mavelikara, Neyyattinkara, Nilambur Road, Ottappalam, Parappanangadi, Payyanur, Punalur, Shoranur Jn., Thalassery, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Thrisur, Tirur, Tiruvalla, Tripunithura, Vadakara, Varkala Shivagiri, Wadakancheri. |

Presently work of 5 stations i.e. Chirayinkeezh, Changanassery, Kuttippuram, Shoranur Jn.   and Vadakara  have been completed.

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,  keeping  in  view  the necessity at each station 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.

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  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. Chengannur  railway  station  falls  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Southern Railway for which a total allocation of Rs 1122 crores (Budget Estimate) has been made for the financial year 2025-26 under Plan Head-53.

Development/upgradation of stations 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.

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,  airport  clearance  etc.  The  progress  also  gets  affected  due  to brown  field  related  challenges  such  as  shifting  of  utilities,  (involving water/sewage  lines,  optical  fiber  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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