**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Railways addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2958 regarding the redevelopment of Chengannur railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The redevelopment work has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 98.46 crores. The master plan includes construction of a new terminal building, pilgrim shelter, foot over bridge, and other passenger amenities. No specific completion dates can be provided due to the complex nature of the project.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Chengannur Railway Station Redevelopment:**
* Identified for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
* Redevelopment work sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 98.46 crores.
* Tendering process has been initiated.
* **Master Plan Envisages:**
* Construction of a new terminal building.
* Pilgrim shelter.
* Foot over bridge.
* 12 m wide roof plaza.
* Platform upgradation, including platform shelter.
* Improvement to circulating area and parking space.
* **Recent Improvements Executed:**
* Pay and use toilets in circulating area.
* AC waiting hall and retiring rooms.
* Replacement of damaged platform shelter roofing.
* **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme - Kerala:**
* 35 stations identified for development in Kerala (list provided).
* Phase I work completed for Chirayinkeezh and Vadakara stations.
* **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme - General:**
* Continuous station development with a long-term approach.
* Master plans implemented in phases.
* Focus on amenities like station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lifts/escalators, platform surfacing, cover over platforms, cleanliness, free WiFi, kiosks for local products, better passenger information systems, executive lounges, landscaping.
* Integration of station with the city, multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, sustainable solutions, ballastless tracks, and creation of city centers.
* **Funding:**
* Funded under Plan Head 53 Customer Amenities.
* Southern Railway allocated Rs 1122 crores Budget Estimate for the financial year 2025-26 under Plan Head 53.
* **Project Completion:**
* No time frame can be indicated due to complexities and dependencies.
* Phasing depends on various factors like requirements, existing infrastructure, footfall, adjoining area development, transport modes, funds, and priorities.
* Various statutory clearances needed
**Impact Analysis**
**Passengers:**
* *Impact:* Improved station amenities, better access, enhanced waiting areas, and overall improved travel experience.
* *Action Required:* No specific action required from passengers.
**Railway Authorities:**
* *Impact:* Management and execution of the redevelopment project, coordination of tenders, and ensuring timely completion of various phases.
* *Action Required:* Proceed with the tendering process, oversee construction, and manage the project within the allocated budget. Ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.
**Local Businesses/Vendors:**
* *Impact:* Opportunities for setting up kiosks and providing local products under the "One Station One Product" scheme.
* *Action Required:* Prepare proposals to participate in the "One Station One Product" scheme and coordinate with railway authorities for setting up businesses.
**Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities):**
* *Impact:* Improved accessibility and provision of amenities specifically designed for their needs.
* *Action Required:* No specific action required, but their feedback on accessibility improvements will be valuable.
**State Government:**
* *Impact:* Coordination with railway authorities for integrating the station with the city and improving multimodal connectivity.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with railway authorities to improve road and pedestrian access to the station and ensure seamless integration with other modes of transport.
Key Entities Referenced
Chengannur Railway Station: Railway station in Kerala, undergoing redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: A scheme for the development and modernization of railway stations in India.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for the railway network of India.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
Kerala: State in India, where 35 stations have been identified under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Southern Railway: One of the 18 zones of Indian Railways, Chengannur railway station falls under its jurisdiction.
Plan Head 53 Customer Amenities: A budget allocation category for funding development and upgradation of stations.
Chirayinkeezh: A railway station in Kerala, Phase I work completed under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2958
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
REDEVELOPMENT OF CHENGANNUR RAILWAY STATION UNDER ABSS
2958. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH :
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the Chengannur railway station
redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat station scheme, including
the details of tenders, if any issued or physical works begun;
(b) the total sanctioned investment for the project and the role of
Central, State and Railway authorities in funding and executing the
works;
(c) the planned scope of works under Phase-I and Phase-II - such as
terminal building upgrades, pilgrim centre, lifts, escalators,
skywalk, STP, parking and other passenger amenities - along with
their estimated timelines;
(d) the status of connectivity improvements (road, pedestrian, last-
mile) to the station; and
(e) the expected completion dates for each phase and the total
project outlay?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e): Chengannur railway station have been identified for
development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The redevelopment
work of Chengannur railway station has been sanctioned at a cost of
Rs. 98.46 crores by Ministry of Railways.
..2/--2-
The master plan of the Chengannur railway station envisages
construction of new terminal building, pilgrim shelter, foot over
bridge, 12 m wide roof plaza, platform upgradation including platform
shelter, improvement to circulating area and parking space etc. The
tendering process for the redevelopment of Chengannur railway
station has been taken up.
In recent years, improvements to pay and use toilets in circulating
area, improvements to AC waiting hall as well as retiring rooms and
replacement of damaged platform shelter roofing have been executed
at Chengannur railway station.
35 stations have been identified for development under Amrit Bharat
Station Scheme in the State of Kerala. List of the stations is given
below:
No. of
State Names of Amrit Stations
Amrit
Stations
Alappuzha , Angadippuram, Angamali For
Kaladi, Chalakudi, Changanassery,
Chengannur, Chirayinkeezh, Ernakulam,
Ernakulam Town, Ettumanur, Ferok,
Guruvayur , Kannur, Kasargod, Kayankulam
Jn, Kollam Jn, Kozhikode, Kuttippuram,
Kerala 35
Mavelikara, Neyyattinkara , Nilambur Road,
Ottappalam, Parappanangadi, Payyanur,
Punalur, Shoranur Jn., Thalassery,
Thiruvananthapuram Central, Thrisur, Tirur,
Tiruvalla, Tripunithura, Vadakara,
VarkalaShivagiri, Wadakancheri
..3/--3-
Presently Phase-I work of 2 stations i. e. Chirayinkeezh and
Vadakara, have been completed.
The Amrit Bharat Station 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.
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 or
State-wise. Chengannur railway station falls under the jurisdiction of
Southern Railway for which a total allocation of Rs 1122 crores
(Budget Estimate) has been made for the financial year 2025-26
under Plan Head-53.
...4/--4-
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. 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.
Further, development/redevelopment/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, airport clearance etc. The progress also gets
affected due to brown field related challenges such as shifting of
utilities, (involving water/sewage lines, optical fiber 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 high voltage power lines etc.
and these factors affect the completion time. Therefore, no time
frame can be indicated at this stage.
The phasing of the station redevelopment project depends on several
factors like requirement, level of existing infrastructure, changes in
station footfall, development of adjoining areas and their interaction
with the station, changes in complementary mode of transport,
availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. This is a gradually evolving
process depending upon a numbers of variables and no time frame
can be indicated at this stage for the same.
****