50 Amrit Bharat stations, including Hyderabad to get facelift in South Central Railway

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the re-development of 508 railway stations around the country under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme on August 6, 2023.

This includes 50 railway stations spread across the four states of the South Central Railway (SCR). The foundation stone for 21 stations in Telangana, 15 stations in Andhra Pradesh, 13 stations in Maharashtra, and 1 station in Karnataka would be laid in this first phase of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) at a cost of about Rs. 2,079.29 crore.

The ABSS policy of the Ministry of Railways intends to modernise railway stations by focusing on long-term development. The concept is based on the installation of numerous critical elements in accordance with a master plan that caters to ever-increasing needs and increased patronage at railway stations.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme facilities include improved access to railway stations through the removal of unwanted structures, improved lighting, a larger circulating area, updated parking spaces, Divyangjan- friendly infrastructure, environmentally friendly buildings powered by green energy, and so on.

Railway stations across the country were refurbished with cutting-edge facilities as part of the Government of India's Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. These stations would be furnished with new state-of-the-art passenger amenities as well as upgrades and replacements of current facilities, showcasing the glory of Indian diversity.

As many as 21 railway stations like Adilabad, Madhira, Bhadrachalam Road, Mahabubnagar, Hafeezpet, HITEC City, Malakpet, Huppuguda, Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Jangaon, Ramagundam, Kamareddi, Tandur, Karimnagar, Yadadri, Kazipet Jn, Zahirabad, and Khammam were being developed at a cost of Rs 849.09 crore under the Amrit Bharat Stations scheme in Telangana.

The scheme also includes the development of 15 stations in Andhra Pradesh, including Anakapalle, Ongole, Bhimavaram Town, Piduguralla, Donakonda, Repalle, Eluru, Singarayakonda, Kakinada Town Jn, Tadepalligudem, Kurnool City, Tenali, Narasapur, Tuni, and Nidadavolu Jn, at a cost of Rs. 369.60 crore.

Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager, said Amrit Bharat Stations developed around the zone would provide rail travellers with a new experience. These stations, with modern architecture and world-class facilities, would function as city centres with a long-term planning focus. The development of these stations has been prioritised, and each stage of execution would be rigorously monitored to ensure timely completion.

The standard elements of station design will have:

• Development of stations as ‘City Centres’.
• Integration of both sides of city.
• Improvement/redevelopment of Station buildings.
• Provision of well designed modern Passenger Amenities.
• Well designed traffic circulation and inter-modal integration.
• Uniform and well designed Signages for guidance of passengers.
• Provision of suitable Property development in the Master Plans.
• Landscaping, Local Art & Culture.