Parliament Question: ABSS in Mumbai-Gujarat Belt of Western Railway

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4251 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 ABSS IN MUMBAI-GUJARAT BELT OF WESTERN RAILWAY †4251. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) the reasons for the abnormal increase in the initial sanctioned cost, revised cost and actual expenditure of the stations being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the Mumbai- Gujarat belt of Western Railway; (b) whether any inquiry into this cost escalation has been conducted by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)/any other independent agency and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether it is a fact that crucial contracts (such as for FOBS, CCTVs and Signalling) in Western Railways have been awarded only to select groups of contractors during the last five years and if so, the details of the complaints received regarding restrictive tender eligibility conditions and limited competition; (d) whether any vigilance inquiry has been conducted in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and (e) the number of cases that have come to light in Western Railway regarding payments made without completion of work along with §designations of the officials involved and the disciplinary action taken against them? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (e) Modernisation / Upgradation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds. Development / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation of a station is carried out based on category of station / condition / traffic handled etc. Ministry of Railways has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for redevelopment of stations with a long-term approach. The scheme involves preparation of master plans and their implementation in phases. The redevelopment / upgradation of stations is essentially a phased and continuous process due to brownfield project challenges and handling of passengers and trains without undue adverse impact. The phasing of projects accordingly may result in sanctions at different stages for various components. The sanctions do take in account the works previously executed at the stations, the presently sanctioned works etc. Indian Railways has a well established mechanism to monitor implementation of projects including their reviews, inspection, check for quality of works and audits. Works are carried out adhering to thestandards and specifications laid down in various codes and manuals. Inspections/audits/checks are carried out from time to time by various agencies/officials/multi-disciplinary teams as per laid down instructions and actions for correction including damages are taken immediately. This is a continuous and ongoing process. Representations / suggestions, both formal and informal for Railway projects / works across the country are received on the basis of demands raised by State Governments, Members of Parliament, Ministries of Central Government, elected representatives, Railways' own requirements, organizations / rail users etc., at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. Receipt of such suggestions / representations is a continuous and dynamic process and these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time. Vigilance organisations of Western Railway and Railway Board have not received complaints regarding the issues referred in the question and no inquiry has been conducted by these units in the said projects. Tenders in railway are floated as per Railways laid down provisions. Complaints if any, are investigated and disposed off as per guidelines and laid down procedure of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). So far, 1338 stations have been identified for development under this scheme, out of which 87 stations are located in Gujarat and 132 stations are located in Maharashtra. The names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Gujarat and Maharashtra are as following:No. of State Name of Stations Stations Gujarat 87 Ahmedabad, Anand, Ankleshwar, Asarva, Bardoli, Bhachau, Bhaktinagar, Bhanvad, Bharuch, Bhatiya, Bhavnagar, Bhestan, Bhildi, Bilimora (NG), Bilimora Jn, Botad Jn., Chandlodia, Chorvad Road, Dabhoi Jn, Dahod, Dakor, Derol, Dhrangadhra, Dwarka, Gandhidham, Godhra Jn, Gondal, Hapa, Himmatnagar, Jam Jodhpur, Jamnagar, Jamwanthali, Junagadh, Kalol, Kanalus Jn., Karamsad, Keshod, Khambhaliya, Kim, Kosamba Jn., Lakhtar, Limbdi, Limkheda, Mahemadabad& Kheda road, Mahesana, Mahuva, Maninagar, Mithapur, Miyagam Karjan, Morbi, Nadiad, Navsari, New Bhuj, Okha, Padadhari, Palanpur, Palitana, Patan, Porbandar, Pratapnagar, Rajkot, Rajula Jn., Sabarmati (BG & MG), Sachin, Samakhiyali, Sanjan, Savarkundla, Sayan, Siddhpur, Sihor Jn., Somnath, Songadh, Surat, Surendranagar, Than, Udhna, Udvada, Umargaon Road, Unjha, Utran, Vadodara, Vapi, Vatva, Veraval, Viramgam, Vishvamitri Jn., Wankaner. Maharashtra 132 Ahmednagar, Ajni (Nagpur), Akalkot Road, Akola, Akurdi, Amalner, Amgaon, Amravati, Andheri, Badnera, Balharshah, Bandra Terminus, Baramati, Belapur, Bhandara Road, Bhokar, Bhusawal, Borivali, Byculla, Chalisgaon, ChandaNo. of State Name of Stations Stations Fort, Chandrapur, Charni Road, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Chinchpokli, Chinchwad, Dadar (CR), Dadar (WR), Dahisar, Daund, Dehu Road, Devlali, Dhamangaon, Dharangaon, Dharashiv, Dharmabad, Dhule, Diva, Dudhani, Gangakher , Godhani, Gondia, Grant Road, Hadapsar, Hatkanangale, Hazur Sahib Nanded, Himayatnagar, Hinganghat, Hingoli Deccan, Igatpuri, Jalgaon, Jalna, Jeur, Jogeshwari, Kalyan Jn, Kamptee, Kandivali, Kanjur Marg, Karad, Katol, Kedgaon, Kinwat , Kopargaon, Kurduwadi Jn, Kurla Jn, Lasalgaon, Latur, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Lonand Jn, Lonavla, Lower Parel, Malad, Malkapur, Manmad Jn, Manwath Road, Marine Lines, Matunga, Miraj Jn, Mudkhed Jn, Mumbai Central, Mumbra, Murtizapur Jn, Nagarsol, Nagpur Jn, Nandgaon, Nandura, Nandurbar, Narkher Jn, Nashik Road, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Junction, Pachora Jn, Palghar, Pandharpur, Panvel Jn, Parbhani Jn, Parel, Parli Vaijnath, Partur, Phaltan, Prabhadevi, Pulgaon Jn, Pune Jn, Purna Jn, Raver, Rotegaon, Sainagar Shirdi, Sandhurst Road, Sangli, Satara, Savda, Selu, Sewagram, Shahad, Shegaon, Shivaji Nagar Pune, ShriNo. of State Name of Stations Stations Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus Kolhapur, Solapur, Talegaon, Thakurli, Thane, Titvala, Tumsar Road, Umri, Uruli, Vadala Road, Vidyavihar, Vikhroli, Wadsa, Wardha, Washim, Wathar Completed Stations: Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in Gujarat and Maharashtra have been taken up at a good pace. Details of stations completed in Gujarat and Maharashtra are as under: No. of State Name of stations stations Gujarat 21 Dakor, Derol, Godhra Jn, Hapa, Jam Jodhpur, Jam Wanthali, Kanalus Jn, Karamsad, Khambhaliya, Kosamba Jn, Limbdi, Mahuva, Mithapur, Morbi, Okha, Palitana, Porbandar, Rajula Jn, Samakhiyali, Sihor Jn., Utran Maharashtra 17 Amgaon, Baramati, Chanda Fort, Chinchpokli, Devlali, Dhule, Kedgaon, Lasalgaon, Lonand Jn, Matunga, Murtizapur Jn, Nandura, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Junction, Parel, Savda, Shahad, Vadala RoadThe activities for development at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of the stations is as given below: Gujarat:  Himmatnagar station: The works of new station building, improvement of existing station building, water booth, toilet, circulating area, parking and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.  Dahod station: The works of improvement of station building, porch, platform surfacing of platform no. 1, improvement of booking counter, waiting hall, waiting room, pay and use toilet, circulating area, entry/exit gate and signages have been completed. The work of 12 m Foot Over Bridge has been taken up.  Limkheda station: The works of new station building, raising of platform no. 1 & 2, improvement of platform surface, toilet at platform no. 1 & 2/3, improvement of circulating area and entry/exit gate have been completed. The works of signages and 6 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.  Asarva station: The works of new station building, porch, new waiting room, booking counter and toilet block have been completed. The works of new platform shelter, platform surfacing, circulating area, parking, Divyangjan facilities and finishing work of concourse area have been taken up.Maharashtra:  Palghar station: The works of new platform shelter at platform no. 2/3, platform surfacing, new coping blocks and tactile tile work at platform no. 4 have been completed. The works of utility shifting and 12 m Foot Over Bridge have been taken up.  Diva station: The works of improvement of station building, circulating area and parking on East side, new entry gate, platform raising and flooring of platform no. 5/6 and 7/8, platform shelter at platform no. 7/8, new toilet block, sewage treatment plant on West side, improvement of Foot Over Bridge at Kalyan end and Mumbai end have been completed. The work of new 6 m Foot Over Bridge has been taken up.  Mumbra station: The works for improvement of platform surface, seating arrangement, new toilet block, improvement of booking office, circulating area, sewage treatment plant and flooring of Foot Over Bridge have been completed. The work of escalator has been taken up.  Titwala station: The works for station building, entrance gate, platform surfacing, improvement of ticket booking office, toilet block, sewage treatment plant, improvement of two wheeler parking and approach road on East and West side have been completed. The work of new 6 m Foot Over Bridge has been taken up.Master plans include the following:  Improvement of access to station and circulating areas  Integration of station with both sides of city  Improvement of station building  Improvement of waiting halls, toilets, sitting arrangement, water booths  Provision of wider foot over bridge/air concourse commensurate with passenger traffic  Provision of lift/escalators/ramp  Improvement /Provision of platform surface and cover over platforms  Provision of kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’  Parking areas, Multimodal integration  Amenities for Divyangjans  Better passenger information systems  Provision of executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme also envisages sustainable and environment friendly solutions, provision of ballastless tracks etc. as per necessity, phasing and feasibility and creation of city centre at the station in the long term. Development / Upgradation of railway stations is complex in nature involving safety of passengers & trains and requires various statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airportclearance etc. The progress also gets affected due to brownfield related challenges such as shifting of utilities (involving water/sewage lines, optical fibre cables, gas pipe lines, power/signal cables, etc.), infringements, operation of trains without hindering passenger movement, speed restrictions due to works carried out in close proximity of tracks and high voltage power lines, etc. and these factors affect the completion time. Development / Upgradation / Modernization of stations including Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’. The details of allocation and expenditure under Plan Head-53 are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise or state-wise. Gujarat is covered under the jurisdiction of two railway zones, namely, North Western Railway and Western Railway. For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 2,081 crore has been made for the financial year 2025-26, out of which an expenditure of ₹ 2,089 crore (up to February, 2026) has been incurred so far. Maharashtra is covered under the jurisdiction of four railway zones, namely, Central Railway, South Central Railway, South East Central Railway and Western Railway. For these zones, an allocation of ₹ 3,834 crore has been made for the financial year 2025-26, out of which an expenditure (up to February, 2026) of ₹ 3,886 crore has been incurred so far. *****