New Delhi, Feb 5 – In a major boost to passenger amenities, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that redevelopment work on 172 railway stations has been completed under the ambitious Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. This initiative aims to transform stations into modern hubs that seamlessly connect with surrounding urban areas, offering enhanced facilities like upgraded buildings, spacious waiting halls, and improved sanitation.
The scheme prioritizes passenger convenience by incorporating wider foot overbridges scaled to traffic volume, escalators, lifts, better parking zones, and advanced passenger information systems. Multi-modal integration ensures smooth connectivity with buses, metros, and other transport, while kiosks provide easy access to essentials.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha through a written reply, Vaishnaw highlighted sustainable and eco-friendly designs, modern tracks, and plans to develop stations as city centers. Out of 1,337 stations identified for upgradation, these 172 mark significant progress in modernizing India’s rail infrastructure.
Beyond stations, the minister emphasized railway bridges’ safety as a top priority. Between 2022 and December 2025, a staggering 8,626 bridges have undergone repairs, strengthening, and reconstruction. Rigorous inspection protocols include biannual checks—once before monsoon and a detailed one post-monsoon—with additional reviews for vulnerable structures as directed by chief bridge engineers.
Subways and road under bridges receive similar scrutiny, with measures to prevent waterlogging. Rehabilitation follows strict guidelines from the Indian Railway Bridge Manual, backed by quality assurance, inspection plans, and contract management to ensure durability and safety.