Model Station Scheme: Indian Railways equips 1213 stations with world class facilities
Indian Railways has developed 1,213 out of 1,253 railway stations across the country with world class facilities under the Adarsh station scheme and aims to develop the remaining 40 stations in the financial year 2022-23.
Modernization of railway stations under 'Adarsh Station Scheme'
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He said that at present, railway stations are being upgraded, modernized under the Adarsh Station Scheme based on the determined need to provide better passenger amenities at the stations.
About Adarsh Station Scheme…
Adarsh Station Scheme has been started from 2009-10 and at present railway stations are being upgraded under Adarsh Station Scheme. So far 1253 stations have been identified for development under 'Adarsh Station Scheme', out of which 1,213 stations have been developed under 'Adarsh Station Scheme' so far.
These facilities will be available at the railway station
He informed that recently, a new scheme of major upgradation of railway station has been started. The facilities envisaged in this plan include reconstruction, improvement, augmentation of station building, congestion free entry to station premises, exit, separation of arrival and departure of passengers, adequate concourse without congestion, wherever feasible, city Integration of both the sides, user friendly indicators, adequate lighting in the operating area and adequate arrangements for drop off, pickup and parking etc. and other facilities as per requirement and feasibility along with all facilities for Persons with Disabilities. So far 41 stations have been identified for major upgradation under this scheme.
Also, New Delhi Railway Station and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus have been identified for development under the Hybrid Built Operate Transfer model of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed that two railway stations namely Rani Kamalapati and Gandhinagar have been developed and commissioned on 15.11.2021 and 16.07.2021 respectively. Another station, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Bangalore is ready for commissioning. These facilities are usually funded under plan head- 53 'Travellers Amenities'. In the financial year 2020-21, Rs 2615.30 crore was allocated and Rs 582.92 crore was spent. In 2021-2022 (up to February 2022), Rs 2344.55 crore was allocated, out of which Rs 1566.32 crore was spent. In the financial year 2022-23, 2700 were allotted.
Railway starts door-to-door delivery service with Department of Posts
At the same time, Indian Railways has started door-to-door delivery service with the Department of Posts. A 'Joint Parcel Product' (JPP) of India Post and Indian Railways is being developed, with initial and end end connectivity provided by the Department of Posts.
In this regard, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed that JPP aims to target business-to-business and business-to-customer by providing holistic parcel solutions like pickup, booking and delivery at the recipient's premises. To do.
He informed that JPP has been started on pilot project basis by Indian Railways and India Post. The first service of the pilot project has been started from Surat to Varanasi on 31st March, 2022.
