Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to Redevelop 1,337 Railway Stations, including four stations in J&K

New Delhi, Dec 17: The Ministry of Railways has launched the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) to redevelop and modernise railway stations across the country through a phased, long-term approach, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha. Replying to a question in the House, the Minister said a total of 1,337 stations have so far been identified for redevelopment under the scheme. These include four stations in Jammu and Kashmir, Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. In Jharkhand, 57 stations have been selected, while 80 stations have been identified in Madhya Pradesh, including those in the Shahdol and Sidhi Lok Sabha constituencies.

The scheme focuses on preparing station-specific master plans and executing them in phases to improve passenger amenities and overall station infrastructure.

Planned upgrades include better access and circulating areas, integration of stations with both sides of cities, improved station buildings, waiting halls, toilets, seating and drinking water facilities, as well as wider foot overbridges or air concourses depending on passenger traffic. Other features include the installation of lifts, escalators and ramps, upgraded platform surfaces and shelters, kiosks for local products under initiatives such as “One Station One Product,” enhanced parking and multimodal integration, facilities for Divyangjans, modern passenger information systems, executive lounges and landscaping. The scheme also emphasises sustainable and environment-friendly solutions, with a long-term vision of developing stations as city centres to spur economic activity.