Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 Railway stations across the Nation including Hyderabad (Nampally) Railway station under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme, on Sunday through Remote Video link.
Telangana Government Dr Tamilisai Soundarajan, Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy, SCR General Manager Arun Kumar, Division Railway Manager Bhartesh Kumar Jain and other senior Railway officials also participated in the program from a function held at Hyderabad Railway station.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment works at a cost of more than Rs 24,470 crores, these 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories, including 21 in Telangana and 18 in Andhra Pradesh,
Speaking on the occasion Dr Tamilisai stated that Amrit Bharat Station Scheme will be helpful for the development of the State and useful for the general public.
She said that railways are providing quality, secure, safe and economic travel to the public. Development of Railway is development of the common people of the country.
Railways are useful for the patients, students and middle class vendors, she added.
Kishan Reddy stated that the Prime Minister’s vision is to develop rail infrastructure and network to make the rail journey safe and comfortable.
He stated that Railways sanctioned 12 new projects at a combined cost of Rs. 8, 494 Crores in the State of Telangana. It includes 731 kms of six new lines, doubling and tripling. Hyderabad railway station is being redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs. 309 Crs and plans are being prepared to redevelop Kacheguda railway station as well.
The Union Tourism Minister stated that, the Telangana State witnessed a major passenger centric development in recent years. He also stated that Central Government is planning to construct a Ring Road Railway Line Project along with the Regional Ring Road as a pilot project which will be a role model for development of urban and rural connectivity.
Speaking on the occasion, SCR GM stated that as part of the first phase of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, foundation stone is being laid for 50 Railway stations in SCR jurisdiction —21 Stations in Telangana, 15 Stations in Andhra Pradesh, 13 Stations in Maharashtra and 1 Station in Karnataka at a combined cost of nearly Rs. 2.079.29 Crores.
Inspired by the visionary outlook of our Prime Minister, Indian Railways has taken up the initiative of Major upgradation of Railway Stations and “Amrit Bharat Station Scheme”, which is set to transform railway stations in terms of provision of modern passenger facilities and convert them into growth centers to the city’s populace.
The idea is to optimize passenger experience and comfort while catering to the ever increasing needs and enhanced patronage of the Railway stations.
The ABSS is aimed to modernize Railway stations, envisaging development on a continuous basis with a long term vision.
Under South Central Railway (SCR), 114 stations across six divisions are set to see the change as part of redevelopment under ABSS and major upgradation of stations.
Hyderabad Railway station, which is one of the important coaching terminals in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and is located in prime location of capital city region of Telangana State, has been identified for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme and the upgradation works are being undertaken at a cost of Rs. 309 Crores.
The Redevelopment of Hyderabad station will provide enhanced experience with world class amenities and facilities which will cater the needs of the increasing footfall in the future period.
UNI
