UP, Maharashtra & Bengal lead Rlys push for station makeovers

AN AMBITIOUS PLAN to turn railway stations across the country into city centres has got an impetus in the recent Union Budget, with the Centre setting aside over ₹12,000 crore towards it in FY 2025-26.

- DHEERAJ MISHRA

Of the 1,337 stations identified for a makeover, Uttar Pradesh has the most (157), officials said, followed by Maharashtra (132), West Bengal (101), Bihar (98), Gujarat (87), Rajasthan (85), Madhya Pradesh (80), Tamil Nadu (77), Andhra Pradesh (73), Karnataka (61), Odisha (59), Jharkhand (57) and Assam (50).

The Indian Railways spent ₹8,000 crore on the project in FY 2023-24 and allocated ₹12,993 crore in FY 2024-45.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "We have no shortage of funds. Flexibility is maintained regarding allocation in the umbrella works.

Amrit Bharat station scheme is one of these. As work progresses in different phases, we will get more funds in the revised estimates." Funds for the scheme are earmarked under Customer Amenities in the Budget.