The Indian Railways is an essential component of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, connecting people and facilitating freight transportation across the country. To ensure the safety and convenience of passengers and to modernize the railway infrastructure, the government launched the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) in February 2023. The ABSS aims to rejuvenate 1,309 railway stations across India with a long-term approach, focusing on enhancing amenities, introducing new facilities, and creating city centers at these stations.
What is the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)?
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) was launched by the Ministry of Railways in February 2023. It is a comprehensive initiative aimed at developing railway stations on an ongoing basis with a long-term vision. The scheme’s objective is to redevelop 1,309 railway stations across India, transforming them into modern, world-class facilities. The ABSS emphasizes master planning to cater to the specific needs and demands of each station.
The Need for ABSS
As India’s population continues to grow, the pressure on the transportation infrastructure, including railways, increases. To keep up with the rising demand and to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers, it is crucial to modernize and upgrade the railway stations with the latest technologies and amenities. The ABSS aligns with the government’s vision of ‘Naya Bharat’ or New India, where infrastructure development plays a key role in achieving progress and prosperity.
Objectives of the ABSS
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme has several key objectives:
- Enhanced Facilities: The ABSS aims to go beyond the minimum essential amenities at railway stations. It focuses on providing top-notch facilities and services to passengers and visitors.
- City Centers and Roof Plazas: The scheme envisions the creation of city centers and roof plazas at railway stations, transforming them into vibrant hubs of socio-economic activities.
- Amenities Introduction, Upgradation, and Replacement: The ABSS includes the introduction of new amenities, as well as upgrading and replacing existing ones, to cater to the evolving needs of passengers.
Scope of Work under ABSS
The ABSS involves a comprehensive scope of work to revitalize railway stations across India. The key areas of improvement include:
- Entry and Exit Points: Enhancing the entry and exit points to ensure smooth and convenient movement of passengers.
- Circulating Areas: Improving the circulating areas within stations to facilitate passenger flow.
- Waiting Halls: Upgrading waiting halls to provide a comfortable and pleasant experience for passengers.
- Toilets: Ensuring clean and well-maintained toilets for the convenience of travelers.
- Lifts and Escalators: Installing lifts and escalators to improve accessibility for passengers, especially those with mobility challenges.
- Cleanliness: Maintaining high cleanliness standards to create a hygienic environment for everyone.
- Free Wi-Fi Kiosks: Providing free Wi-Fi kiosks to enable connectivity for passengers.
- One Station One Product Scheme: Promoting local products through the ‘One Station One Product’ scheme.
- Better Passenger Information Systems: Implementing advanced passenger information systems for real-time updates.
- Executive Lounges: Introducing executive lounges for the convenience of business travelers.
- Nominated Spaces for Business Meetings: Allocating spaces for conducting business meetings within the stations.
- Landscaping: Beautifying the station premises with landscaping.
Launch of Recent Rejuvenation Works under ABSS
The recent launch of the rejuvenation works under the ABSS saw the commencement of work on 13 railway stations in Karnataka. These stations, including Ballari, Ghatprabha, Gokak Road, Alnavar, Gadag, Koppal, Harihar, Arsikere, Mangaluru Jn., Wadi, Kalaburagi Jn. (Gulbarga), and Shahabad, are set to become city centers and urban icons, giving a new identity to their respective towns and cities. The rejuvenated stations will offer world-class amenities such as shopping zones, food courts, children’s play areas, multi-level parking, and facilities catering to the physically challenged.
The integration of multi-modal connectivity will further enhance the importance of these redeveloped stations, making them the center of socio-economic activities in their regions. The launch of work on these 13 stations was part of a nationwide initiative that laid the foundation stone for work on 508 stations across various states.
