Parliament Question: Status of Infrastructure Upgrades under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025 STATUS OF INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES UNDER AMRIT BHARAT STATION SCHEME 524. SHRI G LAKSHMINARAYANA: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) the details of railway stations identified for infrastructure upgradation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) across the country, State and station-wise particularly for Andhra Pradesh; (b) the details of infrastructure upgrade works proposed, undertaken, or completed at each identified station in the said State; (c) the estimated cost of each project, the current physical and financial status of works, including date of sanction, tendering stage, percentage of completion and expected timeline for completion, station-wise; (d) whether any delays in fund allocation, tendering or cost overruns have impacted the timely implementation of these projects, if so, the details thereof; (e) whether Anantapur and Guntakal railway stations have been included under ABSS, if so, the specific details of planned works and timeline; and (f) if not, the reasons for their exclusion? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (f) Anantapur and Guntakal railway stations are located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Anantapur railway station has been identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.For Anantapur railway station, tenders have been awarded and development works like improvements to circulating area, parking area, improvements to station building, construction of platform shelter etc. have been taken up. At Guntakal railway station, development works like improvements to circulating area, extension of cover over platforms, provision of tactile pathways, escalators, Divyangjan water pedastals etc. have been completed. Upgradation/Modernisation of stations on Indian Railways is a continuous and ongoing process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement, inter-se priority, availability of funds etc. 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, amenitiesfor 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 73 stations are located in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The names of stations identified for development under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Andhra Pradesh are as following: No. of State Amrit Names of Amrit Stations Stations Adoni, Anakapalle, Anantapur, Anaparthi, Araku, Bapatla, Bhimavaram Town, Bobbili Jn, Chipurupalli, Chirala, Chittoor, Cuddapah, Cumbum, Dharmavaram, Dhone, Donakonda, Duvvada, Elamanchili, Eluru, Giddalur, Gooty, Gudivada, Gudur, Gunadala, Guntur, Hindupur, Ichchpuram, Kadiri, Kakinada Town Jn, Andhra 73 Pradesh Kottavalasa Jn, Kuppam, Kurnool city, Macherla, Machilipatnam, Madanapalle Road, Mangalagiri, Mantralayam Road, Markapur Road, Nadikude Jn, Nandyal Jn, Narasapur, Narasaraopet, Naupada Jn, Nellore, Nidadavolu Jn, Ongole, Pakala Jn, Palasa, Parvatipuram, Piduguralla, Piler,No. of State Amrit Names of Amrit Stations Stations Rajahmundry, Rajampet, Rayanapadu, Renigunta, Repalle, Samalkot , Sattenapalle, Satya Sai Prashanti Nilayan, Simhachalam, Singaraykonda, Sri Kalahasti, Srikakulam Road, Sullurpeta, Tadepalligudem, Tadipatri, Tenali, Tirupati, Tuni, Vijayawada, Vinukonda, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram Jn Development works at railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in the state of Andhra Pradesh have been taken up at a good pace. Till now Phase – I work of 01 station, namely, Sullurpeta station in the state of Andhra Pradesh has been completed under this scheme. The works at other stations have also been taken up at good pace and progress of some of the above stations is as given below: ● 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 finishingworks of station buildings on both sides and air concourse, subway extension, water tanks, sewage treatment plant works have been taken up. ● At Rayanapadu station, the work of station building, platform surfacing, platform shelter, waiting hall have been completed and the works of finishing for circulating area, parking, concourse area have been taken up. ● At Tuni station, the work of platform surfacing and shelter works have been completed, and circulating area, parking, Foot Over Bridge, waiting hall and toilet upgradation works have been taken up. Development / Upgradation / Modernization of stations including under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’. The details of allocation of funds for development and maintenance of stations are maintained Zonal Railway-wise and not Work-wise or Station-wise. Passenger amenities are generally funded under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’. The state of Andhra Pradesh is covered under four zones viz. East Coast Railway, Southern Railway, South Central Railway and South Western Railway. The fund allocation to these zones for development and maintenance of stations under Plan Head-53 ‘Customer Amenities’, for the year (BE 2025-26) is ₹ 2,913 Cr. 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, air-portclearance 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. Therefore, no time frame can be indicated at this stage. *****