New Delhi, December 17: The Ministry of Railways has launched the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) with a long-term vision for redevelopment and modernization of railway stations across the country through phased implementation of comprehensive master plans. This was stated by the Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Under the scheme, as per a PIB statement, a total of 1,337 railway stations have been identified so far for redevelopment. Of these, four stations are located in Jammu & Kashmir, namely Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. In Jharkhand, 57 stations have been selected, while 80 stations have been identified in Madhya Pradesh, including stations falling under Shahdol and Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituencies.
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme focuses on preparing station-specific master plans and executing them in phases to improve passenger amenities and overall station infrastructure.
Union Minister informed that the planned interventions include improvement of station access and circulating areas, integration of stations with both sides of cities, enhancement of station buildings, waiting halls, toilets, seating arrangements and drinking water facilities, provision of wider foot overbridges or air concourses based on passenger traffic, installation of lifts, escalators and ramps, improved platform surfaces and shelters, kiosks for local products under initiatives such as ‘One Station One Product’, parking and multimodal integration, amenities for Divyangjans, improved passenger information systems, executive lounges and landscaping.
The scheme also envisages sustainable and environment-friendly solutions and development of stations as city centres in the long term to promote economic activities around station areas.
So far, works have been completed at 160 stations across Indian Railways, while substantial progress has been achieved at several others. In Jammu & Kashmir, significant works have been completed at Budgam, Jammu Tawi and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan stations, with additional facilities currently under execution. In Jharkhand, stations such as Muri Junction, Orga, Bano and Gangaghat have seen completion of major components, with finishing and allied works underway. In the Shahdol Lok Sabha Constituency, stations including Anuppur, Bijuri, Shahdol and Umaria have recorded notable progress, while works have also commenced at Bargawan station in Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency, he added.
The Minister informed that further development, redevelopment, upgradation and modernization of railway stations is a continuous process and is undertaken based on inter-se priorities, category of stations and availability of funds. Master planning under the scheme is an iterative process, and timelines for completion cannot be indicated at this stage due to the complexity of works, statutory clearances and operational challenges associated with brownfield projects.
Redevelopment of stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head–53 ‘Customer Amenities’. For the financial year 2025–26, a fund allocation of ₹12,118 crore has been made under this plan head, against which an expenditure of ₹7,253 crore has been incurred up to October 2025, the Union Minister concluded.
