Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Railway stations, at present, are upgraded/modernised under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme based on identified need of providing better enhanced passenger amenities at stations. Under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme, 1,253 stations have been identified for development of which 1,181 stations so far have been developed.
In the state of Uttar Pradesh, 152 stations have been identified under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme of which 128 stations have been upgraded/developed under this scheme. In the state of Haryana, 16 stations have been identified under Adarsh Station Scheme of which 15 stations have been upgraded/developed and the remaining stations are targeted to be developed under Adarsh Station Scheme by 2020-21.
Further, under soft-upgradation scheme, 68 railways stations have been substantially upgraded during 2018-19. Various passenger amenities which, inter-alia, include improvement in façade of the station building, retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities), separate waiting room for ladies, landscaping of circulating area, earmarked parking, signages, Pay & Use toilets, Foot Over Bridge, ramps at entry to station etc. have been provided at these Railway stations as per the respective category of the station depending on need, volume of passenger traffic, and inter-se priority, subject to availability of funds.
Also, “Station Redevelopment” is planned by leveraging real estate potential of sparable land and air space in and around the stations, inviting private participation. For this, Railway conducts techno-economic feasibility studies of stations across the country. Based on the outcome of these feasibility studies, stations are taken up for redevelopment in phases.The selection of developer is done following a transparent and competitive bidding process.
The work of redevelopment is in advanced stage at Gandhinagar (Western Railway) and Habibganj (West Central Railway) railway stations. Contracts have been awarded for redevelopment of Gomtinagar (North Eastern Railway), Anand Vihar (Northern Railway), Bijwasan (Northern Railway), and Chandigarh (Northern Railway) railway stations.
This press release is based on information given by Railways and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on March 20, 2020, according to a PIB release.
For development of Railway stations, this Ministry has formulated various schemes for upgradation/modernization/augmentation of stations on Indian Railways under various developmental schemes viz. Model, Modern and Adarsh Station Scheme.
‘Model’ station scheme was in vogue from 1999 to 2008.Initially one station per Division of Indian Railways was selected under the scheme. In 2006, the criteria were revised to include all ‘A’ and ‘B’ category stations on the basis of the annual passenger earnings under the scheme. Under this scheme 594 stations were selected for upgradation of which 590 stations have already been developed. As regards, the remaining 4 stations, Sambalpur Road Station & Alnavar station have been dropped from the scheme, while Ultadanga and Mal Bazar Stations have been closed.
Modern’ station scheme was in vogue from 2006-07 to 2007-08. Under this scheme, 637 stations were selected for upgradation which has already been developed.