Parliament Question: Passenger Amenities at Non-junction/Suburban Railway Stations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2976 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025 PASSENGER AMENITIES AT NON-JUNCTION/SUBURBAN RAILWAY STATIONS 2976. SHRI RAJESH VERMA: SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: SMT. SHAMBHAVI: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is taking steps to upgrade passenger amenities at non-junction and suburban railway stations across the country, if so, the details thereof; (b) the status of basic infrastructure like waiting rooms, drinking water, digital displays and shaded seating at such stations; (c) whether there is any policy to ensure uniform standards across high- traffic but non-premium stations, if so, the details thereof; (d) the role of Station Redevelopment Schemes in addressing these gaps; and (e) the manner in which these improvements will enhance dignity, comfort and safety of ordinary train passengers? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (e) Upgradation / Modernisation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertakenas per requirement, inter-se priority, availability of funds. The priority for development / redevelopment / upgradation / modernisation of stations is accorded to higher category of station over lower category of station while sanctioning and executing the works. Ministry of Railways has launched Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for 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 including digital displays, 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. Development of stations into city centres envisages enhanced economic activities at and around the stations apart from improved travel experience. So far, 1337 stations have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Development works at railway stations underAmrit Bharat Station Scheme across the country have been taken up at a good pace. Till now, phase-I works of 105 stations have been completed. Names of these stations are as following: Ambikapur, Amgaon, Ayodhya Dham, Bagalkot, Baijnath Paprola, Balrampur, Bareilly City, Begumpet, Bhanupratappur, Bhilai, Bijnor, Bundi, Chanda Fort, Chidambaram, Chinchpokli, Chirayinkeezh, Cuttack, Dakor, Derol, Deshnoke, Devlali, Dharwad, Dhule, Dongargarh, Fatehabad, Fatehpur Shekhawati, Gadag, Gogameri, Gokak Road, Gola Gokarnath, Gomti Nagar, Govardhan, Govind Garh, Govindpuri, Govindpur Road, Haibargaon, Hathras City, Hapa, Idgah Agra Jn., Izzatnagar, Jam Jodhpur, Jam Wanthali, Joychandi Pahar, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kanalus Jn., Karamsad, Karimnagar, Katni South, Kedgaon, Kosamba Jn., Kulitturai, Lasalgaon, Limbdi, Lonand Jn., Mahe, Mahuva, Mailani, Mandal Garh, Mandawar Mahwa Road, Mandi Dabwali, Mannargudi, Matunga, Mithapur, Morbi, Munirabad, Murtizapur Jn., Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Junction, Okha, Orchha, Palitana, Panagarh, Parel, Pirpainti, Pokhrayan, Polur, Rajgarh, Rajmahal, Rajula Jn., Ramghat Halt, Saharanpur Jn., Samakhiyali, Samalpatti, Sankarpur, Savda, Seoni, Shahad, Shajapur, Shridham, Siddharth Nagar, Sihor Jn., Srirangam, St. Thomas Mount, Sullurpeta, Suraimanpur, Swaminarayan Chappia, Thawe, Tiruvannamalai, Ujhani, Urkura, Utran, Vadakara, Vadala Road, Vriddhachalam Jn., Warangal. The works at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of the stations is as given below:• At Ahmedabad station, the structural work of second entry parcel building has been completed and finishing work has been taken up. Structural work of south side Multi Modal Transport Hub building, air concourse, new Foot Over Bridge, elevated road, ballastless track and improvement of platform no. 10 have been taken up. • At Somnath station, the structural work of basement parking has been completed. The works of construction of new station building, finishing work of basement parking, construction of under ground water tank and new platform shelters have been taken up. • At Surat station, the structural work of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation building, sewage treatment plant and construction of drain have been completed. The works of finishing of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation building, construction of second entry station building, air concourse and elevated road have been taken up. • At Bhubaneshwar station, the structural works of West and East side station building, air concourse and sewage treatment plant have been completed and the finishing works of West and East side station building, Foot Over Bridges, West and East side elevated road have been taken up. • At Puri station, the structural works of new station building have been completed and the finishing work of station building, over head tank and station building dome have been taken up.• At Cuttack station, the works of new second entry station building, structural work of new main entry station building and sewage treatment plant have been completed and the finishing works of new main entry building, Foot Over Bridge and air concourse have been taken up. • At Prayagraj station, the structural work of Rail Mail Service building, parcel building, arrival buildings, basement plaza at second entry, Electrical substation have been completed and finishing work of these structures have been taken up. Extension work of Foot Over Bridge no. 2 has been completed. Structural work of second entry station building, work of air concourse and relocated structures have been taken up. • At Ghaziabad station, structural work of station building at main entry side and second entry side, foundation work of Foot Over Bridge, roof plaza, electrical substation at main entry side and second entry side, Magistrate building, Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force buildings have been taken up. • At Ramnagar station, the work of toilet block, improvement of old station building, waiting room, construction of porch, raising of platform, extension of Passenger Reservation System building, development of circulating area, new platform shelter, signages, lighting, landscaping and Divyangjan facilities of tactile pathway, water booth, low height ticket counter, parking and ramp have been completed. The work of finishing have been taken up.• At Kashipur Junction station, the work of modern toilet block, improvement of circulating area, parking, construction of porch, platform raising and surfacing have been completed. The work of improvement of station building, Divyangjan facilities and lift have been taken up. • At Dahod station, the work of improvement of station building, construction of new porch, improvement of circulating area, improvement of booking counter and waiting hall, improvement of waiting room, platform surfacing of platform no. 1, new platform shelter, improvement of station illumination has been completed. The work of new 12 m Foot Over Bridge has been taken up. • At New Bhuj station, the structural work of new main entry and second station building, new porch, structural work of air concourse have been completed. The work of finishing of station buildings, construction of Foot Over Bridge, improvement to platform have been taken up. • At Saharsa station, structural works of new station building including new waiting hall and toilet block, improvement of parking area, circulating area development, entrance gate, boundary wall in circulating area have been completed and works of construction of new 12 m wide Foot Over Bridge, new platform shelters have been taken up. • At Salauna station, structural works of new station building, development of new parking area, raising and surfacing of platform no. 2have been completed and works of construction of new 12 m Foot Over Bridge, circulating area improvement, raising of platform no. 1, new Platform shelter work have been taken up. • At Modi Nagar station, work of improvement to station building elevation, improvement to waiting area and toilets, 12 m wide Foot Over Bridge, new platform shelters, have been completed and work of minor finishing items of building, platform surfacing, signage, improvement to circulating area and parking have been taken up. • At Sitapur Junction station, work of construction of old station building façade, platform flooring, platform shelter, circulating area boundary wall have been completed and works of construction of new station building foundation, pay & use toilet renovation, circulating area road, parking etc. have been taken up. • At Tirupati station, the work of structural framework of second entry (South side) station building and 2 no. air concourse have been completed and the work of finishing at South side station building and air concourses, structural work of the main entry (North side) building, platform shelter works, lift, escalators etc. have been taken up. • At Nellore station, the work of structural frameworks, brickwork and plastering of station buildings on both sides, launching of girders of air concourse have been completed and finishing works of station buildings on both sides and air concourse, subway extension, water tanks, sewage treatment plant works have been taken up.• At Morappur station the works for improvement of new station building, circulating area, parking area, platform shelter, Divyangjan parking, ramps and low height ticket booth, help booth have been completed. The works of improvement of platform surfacing, waiting hall, toilet, signages, station illumination, Divyangjan friendly toilets, water booths, Foot Over Bridge and work of lift have been taken up. • At Bommidi station the works for improvement of station building, 6m wide Foot Over Bridge, circulating area, parking area, platform shelter, platform surfacing, waiting hall, toilet, signages, Divyangjan parking, ramps and low height ticket booth, lighting, tactile guide, Divyangjan friendly toilets, water booths have been completed. The works for improvement of lift, Braille maps and signages have been taken up. • At Chalakudi station, the work of improvement of station building concourse and booking office, circulating area, platform shelter, platform surfacing, waiting hall, coach indication boards, Divyangjan facilities of public announcement system, signages, standard ramps, low height ticket booth have been completed. Work of improvement to station building, toilets, Divyangjan facilities of toilets and water booths have been taken up. • At Changanacheri station, the work of improvement of station building, improvement of circulating area, improvement of station approach road, platform surfacing, coach indication boards, Divyangjanfacilities of parking, toilet, water booths, standard ramps have been completed. Work of public announcement system, signages and lighting have been taken up Development / Redevelopment / Upgradation / Modernisation of Railway Stations is complex in nature involving safety of passengers & trains and requires various statutory clearances such as fire clearance, heritage, tree cutting, airport clearance etc. The progress also gets affected due to brown field 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. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated at this stage. 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. The fund allocation of ₹ 12,118 crore has been made for the financial year 2025-26 under Plan Head – 53 and an expenditure (up to June, 2025) of ₹ 2,612 crore has been incurred so far. *****