**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the Ministry of Railways' response to questions regarding development at Silchar Railway Station. It details existing passenger amenities, planned upgrades under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, and ongoing efforts to provide adequate staff quarters. The development and upgrade of railway stations is an ongoing process, with master planning for Silchar station underway.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Passenger Amenities at Silchar Railway Station:**
* Three double-bedded retiring rooms and one six-bedded dormitory are currently available.
* Recent improvements include platform surfacing, waiting hall upgrades, platform shelters, circulating area enhancements, approach road improvements, and lift installations.
* **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:**
* Silchar is identified for development under this scheme.
* The scheme focuses on continuous station development with long-term master plans.
* Improvements include station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lifts/escalators, platform surfacing and cover, cleanliness, free WiFi, kiosks for local products (One Station One Product), passenger information systems, executive lounges, business meeting spaces, and landscaping.
* The scheme also considers building improvements, city integration, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable solutions, ballastless tracks, and city center creation, based on necessity and feasibility.
* Master planning for Silchar station is in progress, with no specified completion timeframe.
* Development is funded under Plan Head 53 (Customer Amenities) with an allocation of Rs 554 Crores for the Northeast Frontier Railway zone (covering Assam) for the financial year 2025-26.
* **Railway Quarters at Silchar Railway Station:**
* 243 existing railway quarters are fully occupied.
* The Railway has identified the need for 100 additional staff quarters.
* Construction of 22 new quarters is underway in the first phase.
* **Train Replacement:**
* Replacement of passenger trains with MEMU/DEMU services is ongoing, subject to operational feasibility and availability.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Passengers:**
* *Impact:* Improved amenities at Silchar Railway Station, including waiting areas, accessibility features, and information systems.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the available amenities and provide feedback on areas for further improvement.
* **Railway Employees:**
* *Impact:* Potential for increased availability of railway quarters at Silchar, with 22 new quarters under construction in the first phase.
* *Action Required:* Follow established procedures for requesting and obtaining railway quarter assignments.
* **Local Businesses:**
* *Impact:* Opportunities to participate in the "One Station One Product" scheme and establish kiosks at Silchar Railway Station.
* *Action Required:* Prepare proposals for offering local products through the scheme and coordinate with railway authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Silchar Railway Station: A railway station located in Silchar, Assam, which is the subject of proposed improvements and developments.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A scheme by the Indian Railways for the continuous development and upgradation of railway stations with a long-term approach.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Northeast Frontier Railway: The Zonal Railway that covers the state of Assam.
Assam: A state in India where several railway stations are slated for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Plan Head 53 Customer Amenities: A funding category used for development and upgradation of stations, including those under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
DEMU: Diesel Electric Multiple Unit. Refers to train sets.
MEMU: Mainline Electric Multiple Unit. Refers to train sets.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 510
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
GUEST HOUSE/REST HOUSE AT SILCHAR RAILWAY STATION
†510. SHRI PARIMAL SUKLABAIDYA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to build a guest house or a rest
house for the convenience of passengers at Silchar railway station;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to take steps to ensure
availability of adequate railway quarters for railway employees at
Silchar railway station;
(d) if so, the number of railway quarters proposed to be constructed;
(e) whether the Government proposes to replace the local trains with
DEMU racks running from Silchar railway station; and
(f) if so, the current status of this process and the deadline by which
this process is likely to be implemented?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (f): Development/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.At Silchar railway station located in the state of Assam, three retiring
rooms (double-bedded) and one dormitory (six-bedded) are existing for
convenience of the passengers. In recent years, various works related
to passenger amenities have been executed at Silchar station which
include improvement of platform surfacing, waiting hall, platform
shelters, circulating area, approach road, provision of lifts, etc.
Further, Silchar railway station has been identified for development
under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. This scheme envisages
development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term
approach. It involves preparation of master plans and their
implementation in phases to improve the amenities at the stations like
improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls,
toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, platform surfacing and cover over
platform, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through
schemes like ‘One Station One Product’, better passenger information
systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings,
landscaping, etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station.
The scheme also envisages improvement of building, integrating the
station with both sides of the city, multimodal integration, amenities
for Divyangjans, 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.
So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development under Amrit
Bharat Station Scheme, out of which 50 stations are located in the
state of Assam. The names of stations identified for developmentunder Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Assam are as
following:
No. of
State Amrit Names of Amrit Stations
Stations
Amguri, Arunachal, Chaparmukh, Dhemaji,
Assam 50 Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Duliajan, Fakiragram
Jn., Gauripur, Gohpur, Golaghat, Gosai Gaon
Halt, Guwahati, Haibargaon, Harmuti, Hojai,
Jagiroad, Jorhat Town, Kamakhya, Kokrajhar,
Lanka, Ledo, Lumding, Majbat, Makum Jn,
Margherita, Mariani, Murkeongselek,
Naharkatiya, Nalbari, Namrup, Narangi, New
Bongaigaon, New Haflong, New Karimganj, New
Tinsukia, North Lakhimpur, Pathsala, Rangapara
North, Rangiya Jn, Sarupathar, Sibsagar Town,
Silapathar, Silchar, Simaluguri, Tangla, Tinsukia,
Udalguri, Viswanath Chariali
Master planning for development of Silchar station under Amrit Bharat
Station Scheme has been taken up. This is an iterative process
requiring optimization and the time frame for such optimization cannot
be indicated at this stage.
Development / upgradation of stations including under Amrit Bharat
Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer
Amenities’. The details of allocation under Plan Head-53 are
maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not work-wise or station-wise orState-wise. The state of Assam is covered by Northeast Frontier
Railway. For this zone, an allocation of Rs 554 Crores has been made
for the financial year 2025-26 under Plan Head-53.
At present, 243 Railway quarters are available at Silchar railway
station, all of which are occupied by railway staff. Railway has
identified the requirement of additional 100 no. staff quarters and work
has been taken up for execution of work for construction of 22 new
quarters in first phase.
Replacement of passenger trains with MEMU and DEMU services is an
on-going process on Indian Railways, which is dependent on factors
like operational feasibility, availability of MEMU/DEMU rakes,
competing demands etc.
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