The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme launched in 2022 by the Railway Board to transform travel experience has a good start in southern India.
A total of 90 stations falling under the Southern Railway’s six zones have been identified for upgradation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The list of 90 stations include 61 in Tamil Nadu, 26 in Kerala, 1 each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Union Territory of Puducherry.
Southern Railway’s present network extends over a large area of India’s Southern Peninsula, covering the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, and a small portion of Andhra Pradesh. Headquartered at Chennai, the Southern Railways’ six divisions include Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and Salem.
Work Budget
Out of 90 stations selected for modernisation and upgradation of facilities under the scheme, work contract has been awarded for 35 stations and tender finalisation is underway for the remaining stations.
Chennai Egmore, Katpadi, Kanniyakumari (CAPE), Ernakulam Town, Rameswaram, Madurai Junction, Kollam Junction are some of the major stations for which the work of redevelopment has been awarded.
The redevelopment works are being expedited at a steady pace with a vision to modernise the major railhead with futuristic designs, infrastructure and to provide best facilities to passenger.
According to the Southern Railway, the Railway Board has sanctioned a total of Rs 934 crore to take up more than 150 works as part of the station improvement scheme.
Amrit Bharat Scheme
Ministry of Railways has formulated a new policy for modernisation of stations named “Amrit Bharat Station” Scheme.
The scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term vision. It is based on master planning for long term and implementation of the elements of the master plan as per the needs and patronage of the station.
Up to 1,275 stations have been selected under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. They are those located in major cities and places of tourist and pilgrimage importance.
“Work is in progress at 88 stations. Tendering and planning is in progress for 1,187 stations,” a senior railway official said.
Further, the railways has decided that the work in Phase-1 of the stations identified under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme should be completed preferably by the end of financial year 2023-24.