PM lays foundation for Amrit Bharat stations
| Date :07-Aug-2023 |
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for redevelopment of 30 railway stations of Central India under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme on Sunday. These are part of total 508 stations selected for the first phase of the Scheme by the Railway Board for upgradation with a view to enhance the amenities for railway passengers. Majority of these stations are mid to smaller category and hence a one-time investment has been envisaged for the upgradation. The programme was held through video conferencing from New Delhi. In the city, a programme was organised by the Central Railway at Godhni railway station. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was the chief guest at the programme. The modernisation of stations includes development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term vision. As the economy progresses at a rapid pace, the travellers’ number also increase and hence the services at the railway stations must be upgraded to bear the load and provide suitable facilities. Rs 372.1 crore have been earmarked for 15 Central Railways stations of Nagpur Division.
As per the master plan, works and amenities to be developed at these stations include improvement of traffic circulation and beautification of surrounding areas, provision of entrance porches, higher platforms and additional cover over platforms, improvement to facade and elevation of station buildings, improvement to toilets, provision of
executive lounges, waiting rooms with good quality durable furniture, provision of 12 m wide central FoB along with ramps/ lifts/ escalators. Further there would be improvement to second entry, improved lighting arrangement in station premises, provision of aesthetically designed hoarding (signage) on each side of the circulating area, widening of approach roads, well planned parking areas, provision of train indication boards and coach guidance systems, visual display units & announcement system,. provision of divyangjan amenities, ceremonial flags, LED station name boards, landscaping and development of green patches etc. At local function, Union Minister Gadkari said that plan for Broad Gauge Fast Local Metro are on tracks and prior to that station development programme is being taken-up. Once the third and fourth line work on Nagpur-Wardha are completed the fast local metro would start. He also announced that a concrete road would be constructed to provide smooth connectivity to Godhani railway station.
The execution of various works under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has been entrusted to Gati Shakti Unit, Various developmental works over Nagpur division under the scheme have already been sanctioned and agencies for execution are being appointed. Krupal Tumane, Member of Parliament, Pravin Datke, MLC, Padma Shri Dr Vikas Mahatme, ex-MP attended the function at Godhani station. SECR: At SECR in first phase three stations are being taken-up for redevelopment and they include Gondia, Wadsa and Chandafort for which allocation of Rs. 30.96 crore, Rs. 18.40 core and Rs. 16.50 crores have been earmarked. The other stations identified for redevelopment are MandlaFort, Itwari, Kamptee, Seoni, Bhandara Road, Tumsar Road, Amgaon, Dongargarh, Chhindwara, Rajnandgaon, Balaghat and Nainpur. A sum of Rs. 180 crores is provided to SECR's Nagpur Division for undertaking various development works.