Northern Railway has been working with the aim of ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Railway’ to improve both its movable assets and fixed infrastructure. With the launch of Amrit Bharat Scheme by the Hon’ble PM, Railway stations over the zone are being given a total makeover to give them a modern and clean feel. Latest amenities are being provided at the newly redeveloped stations for a more convenient and comfortable rail travel experience for the passengers.
The work on the improvement is on-going at a fast pace, with approval of master plans of 104 stations over the zone. The stations under redevelopment plan in the first phase belong to both Non-Suburban and Suburban group categories. 16 stations are scheduled for major upgradation, while feasibility studies are on-going for 21 more stations. The budget allocation for the Station Redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Scheme for the year 2024-25 is Rs.1538 Cr.
The stations are spread across the five divisions of Northern Railway: Delhi, Ambala, Firozpur, Moradabad and Lucknow which collectively cover 6 states and 2 UTs of Northern India. 15 Stations that cater to the needs of the growing population of Delhi are to be revamped, these include satellite townships of Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh and Bahadurgarh. Important towns of Haryana; Rohtak, Sonipat, Ambala City, Jind and Mansa are also included for a make-over. Townships of the sugarcane belt of western UP; Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Hapur, Dhampur and Gajraula will be redeveloped for both passenger movement and goods loading. Upliftment of tourist and pilgrimage hotspots like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Anandpur Sahib, Kalka, Shimla, Prayag Jn., Garh Mukteshwar and Baijnath Paprola are also envisaged.
The stations will be given a complete facelift, second entry gate will be provided where ever there is a need. Area around the station building will be developed for smooth flow of traffic and to give an aesthetic look. New structures like FOBs, Lifts and escalators will be provided inside the station for easy reach to the platforms. Also, amenities at the station will be developed mindful of the needs of Divyangjan. The main station buildings will be designed in a way keeping in view the culture and ethos of the place. Space will also be designated for offices, food courts and shopping complexes.
Sh. A.K. Verma, General Manager, Northern Railway said that the redeveloped stations will show the changing face of Indian Railways. They will become iconic centers of the city where multimodal travel needs and commercial activities will seamlessly blend enhancing the travel experience of the passengers.
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