Coonoor Railway Station Upgraded at ₹12.18 Crore Under Rail Modernisation Drive.

Coonoor (Tamil Nadu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the redeveloped Coonoor Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme through video conferencing, dedicating the upgraded facility to tourists and the general public.

Following the virtual inauguration, Udhagamandalam BJP MLA Bhojarajan formally opened the station during a special ceremony held at Coonoor. The station has been redeveloped at a cost of ₹12.18 crore while preserving its heritage character and architectural features.

Coonoor is among the three railway stations in Tamil Nadu selected for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The upgraded station now features themed artwork showcasing the biodiversity and cultural identity of the Nilgiris region.

The station premises have been adorned with detailed murals depicting wildlife species found in the Nilgiri forests, including elephants, tigers, gaur, bears, Nilgiri tahr, black panthers, lion-tailed macaques, wild boars and porcupines. The artworks have become an attraction for tourists visiting the heritage railway station.

The renovated facility also displays a model of the UNESCO World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway, along with murals of native bird species such as the Malabar grey hornbill and parrots.

As part of the redevelopment, passenger amenities including modern toilets, drinking water facilities and other essential infrastructure have been upgraded to provide a better travel experience.

The redevelopment of Coonoor Station was part of the nationwide inauguration of 75 Amrit Bharat stations across 20 states. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the stations virtually from Punjab under one of the country’s largest railway station modernisation programmes.

The inauguration ceremony at Coonoor was attended by Udhagamandalam MLA Bhojarajan, Coonoor MLA K.M. Raju, Gudalur MLA Dravida Mani, officials from the Salem Railway Division and members of the public.

Speaking at the event, Bhojarajan said the modernisation of Coonoor Railway Station would boost tourism in the Nilgiri district while maintaining its heritage identity.

“We are really delighted that Coonoor railway station has been upgraded and modernised because Coonoor is an important place for tourists. The Railway attracts more tourists coming to the Nilgiri district. We have to appreciate the Railway department for having improved the station without disturbing the heritage,” he said.

The inauguration of the 75 redeveloped stations marks another milestone under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to transform railway stations across India with modern facilities while preserving regional heritage and architectural character.