Gati Shakti directorate accelerates modernisation of 508 railway stations.

Veterans within the Indian Railways recall that the current iteration of station redevelopment was initiated by Mamata Banerjee when she presented the Railway Budget in July 2009. At that juncture, she outlined her intent to transform 50 stations into globally benchmarked facilities, complete with contemporary amenities.

Fast-forward to 2023, and it is evident that only a small fraction of stations has been revamped according to the initial vision. This is primarily because of impediments and procedural clearances required by various departments, which have struggled to reach a consensus.

However, the establishment of the Gati Shakti directorate has speeded up progress on major stations, and the ambitious project is finally beginning to take shape nearly 14 years after it was conceived.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the redevelopment of 508 railway stations at a cost of over Rs. 24,470 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (see box). Launched in February 2023, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims to modernise a total of 1,309 railway stations, outfitting them with amenities akin to those found in airports, including lounges and commercial spaces.

Sudhanshu Mani, former general manager of the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and the official often credited to be behind the Vande Bharat trains, said, “Although these conversations have been on for 15-20 years, redevelopment in the planned sense has happened at only three stations: Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal at Baiyappanahalli (Karnataka), Rani Kamlapati station at Habibganj (Madhya Pradesh), and Gandhinagar (Gujarat).” The delay is due to the involvement of numerous stakeholders beyond the Indian Railways, including state government agencies, urban development departments, and municipalities, among others. “It is hoped that better strategies will now be employed,” he added.

Presently, 24 stations across the country are undergoing transformation, including prominent ones such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Rs. 1,813 crore) and Chennai Egmore station (Rs. 842 crore).

The impact of Gati Shakti is evident in the data: In 2021-22, one railway station was sanctioned for redevelopment. In 2022-23, the number had jumped to 50.

BS