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A Railway Station like no other
Rani Kamalapati
In a historic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 6 will lay the foundation stone for the ambitious redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country. The event will be conducted via video conferencing and the ceremony will take place at 11:00 am IST.
This monumental project is expected to be the largest foundation stone-laying exercise ever undertaken, with railway stations spread across 27 states and Union territories.
Indian Railway Stations to be transformed into vibrant City Centres
These stations will be transformed into vibrant ‘City Centres,’ integrating both sides of the city for improved connectivity. The holistic vision behind this integrated approach aims at fostering overall urban development centered around the railway station.
Redevelopment project to cover railway stations from which states?
The selected 508 stations span across 27 states and union territories, with a significant focus on states such as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan with 55 stations each, Bihar with 49 stations, Maharashtra with 44 stations, West Bengal with 37 stations, and several others in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Punjab, Gujarat, Telangana, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Karnataka.
Modern design with amenities and world-class infrastructure
The redevelopment project will revolutionize the passenger experience by offering modern amenities and well-designed traffic circulation. The integration of various transportation modes will further enhance connectivity.
Additionally, passengers will benefit from clear and helpful signage for guidance.
Furthermore, the design of the station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage, and architecture, adding a touch of uniqueness and pride to each station.
This redevelopment endeavor represents a significant step towards creating a world-class railway infrastructure that caters to the needs of the people while preserving the essence of India’s diverse cultural heritage.
The PM will address the event through videoconferencing. The Railways has arranged physical functions at 508 stations, signifying the launch of the mammoth exercise. Railway officials said this is the largest foundation stone-laying ceremony ever.
indianexpress.com
PM Modi lays foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 railway stations across India | Here are DETAILS
Gandhinagar Railway Station
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country via video conferencing today (August 6). The entire Railways machinery worked to pull off this mammoth logistical exercises, slated to be the biggest foundation stone-laying programme in one go.
These also include stations in the northeast such as Assam's Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Lumding, Meghalaya's Mendipathar, among others. Bihar's Muzaffarpur, Bapudham Motihari, as well as Shornur and Kasargod in Kerala are also in the list.
What is the cost of redevelopment project?
The redevelopment project, which will cost $3 billion, will install modern passenger amenities apart from ensuring a well-designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and well-designed signage for the guidance of passengers, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said, adding the design of station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.
Noting that prime minister has always said the railways is the preferred mode of transportation for people, the PMO underlines that he has prioritised the importance of providing world-class amenities at railway stations.
Guided by this vision, the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' was launched to redevelop 1,309 stations, it said. As part of this scheme, the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 stations is being laid by the prime minister.
"These stations will be redeveloped at a cost of more than $3 billion. Master Plans are being prepared for development of these stations as 'City Centres', with proper integration of both sides of the city. This integrated approach is driven by the holistic vision of overall urban development of the city, centred around the railway station," the PMO said.
Know about 'Amrit Bharat station scheme':
Launched in December 2022, the Amrit Bharat station scheme aims to prepare a masterplan for railway stations and implement it in a phased manner to enhance facilities.
The facilities intended to be implemented at the stations include-
●Foot-overbridges
●Escalators
●Elevators
●Two-wheeler and car parking areas
●Landscaping/horticulture
●Integrated passenger information system
●Signages
●Improvement of platforms and platform shelters
●Benches and washbasins
●Better illumination and power supply arrangements
●CCTVs
"Improving passenger amenities is a major focus of our government. Our prime minister is personally monitoring the progress of railways from time to time. He has given excellent inputs in the design of stations and he will be laying the foundation for 508 stations," said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Internally, the ministry has set a target of two years to complete the project, officials said.
The scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. The stations are slated to have upgraded amenities such as improved access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes such as ‘One Station One Product’.
Better passenger information systems, executive lounges, designated spaces for business meetings, landscaping, etc, are some of the other features being planned as part of the project.
The redevelopment project cost Rs 24,470 crore and it will install modern passenger amenities apart from ensuring a well-designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and well-designed signage for the guidance of passengers.
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