Indian Railways - modernization of railway stations 13.12.2013

Modernization Programme of Railway Stations

            Indian Railways have more than 8000 stations.  They are divided into different categories (A1, A, B, C, D, E & F) based on earnings from passenger traffic at the stations (except C category which are suburban stations).  Not only modernization of big and important railway stations are being done, it has been ensured that even the small stations have minimum essential amenities for the passengers.

Indian Railways have given greater thrust on providing better amenities and services to rail users in the last few years.  Modernization of railway stations has been one of the focus areas of Railways as a part of this effort, which started with nominating and executing (through improvement) Model stations.  Hon’ble MR in his Budget Speech 2006-07 announced that the year would be celebrated as the year of ‘Serving the Passengers with a Smile’.

            Expenditure on augmentation/improvement of passenger amenities related infrastructure at stations which includes modernization of stations are charged under Plan Head ‘Passenger Amenities’, for which the funds allocation have been increased every year.  Funds allocation in the last five years under this Plan Head has been Rs.205 cr. (2003-04), Rs.215 cr. (2004-05), Rs.222.15 cr.  (2005-06), Rs.345 cr. (2006-07) & Rs. 493.30 cr (2007-08). 

(a) World Class stations       

In the Supplementary Budget 2006-07, Hon’ble MR has announced that stations in metro cities and other important stations would be converted into World class stations.  So far, 22 stations have been identified for development as world class stations.  These are -

Railway	Number and name of the stations
Central	(2) Pune and CST Mumbai (Carnac Bunder)
Eastern	(1) Howrah
Northern	(7) Amritsar, Anand Vihar (Delhi), Bijwasan (Delhi), Chandigarh, Lucknow, New Delhi & Varanasi
Southern	(2) Chennai & Thiruvanathapuram
South Central	(1) Secunderabad
Western	(1) Ahmedabad
East Central	(2) Patna & Gaya
North Central	(2) Mathura & Agra
East Coast	(1) Bhubneshwar
South Western	(1) Bangalore
West Central	(1) Bhopal
North Western	(1)   Jaipur

PS: This list has of late been increased to 50 stations.  Names of the additional railway stations planned to be modernized as world class on the Indian Railways is awaited from Ministry of Raiwlays.  

Development of stations into World class stations with Public Private Partnership would be the preferred option.  Such world class stations will have State of Art station building with good architectural appearance and modern amenities like food plazas, currency exchange counter, tourist info booth, retail outlets, internet cafe, ATM facilities, car rentals, prepaid taxi booths, well illuminated circulating area etc.

The Ministry proposes to take up a few stations in the first phase at the Ministry’s level and execute the others through Zonal Railways with the help of standardized documents and bidding framework developed in the first phase. The preparatory work for New Delhi and Patna stations through appointment of consultants has already been taken on hand.

Architect and Technical Consultant for New Delhi (M/s Terry Farell, Hong Kong) have been appointed to carry out their study and submit a Master Plan and Feasibility Report. For the other five stations, separate Architect and Technical Consultant will be appointed. Bids for Patna were invited in the month of Oct., 2007 and presently under evaluation. Financial Consultant and Legal Adviser would be appointed subsequently for stations. A Consultant for developing a Manual for Standards and Specifications in terms of the performance parameters to be applicable to all World-Class Stations has also been appointed. 

It is expected that New Delhi Station would be bid out towards the middle of 2008. Other five stations would follow subsequently during Oct, 2008 to February, 2009. Based on the experience gained, the rest of the stations (16 in number) would be taken up by the Zonal Railways with standardized documents and assistance provided by the Railway Board.  

Current status of the development of New Delhi Railway Station

• Consultant for development of Manual of Standards and Specifications has been appointed in April, 2007. They have submitted their part draft report in the month of August 2007. This is under examination.
• The Architect and Technical Consultant are expected to submit the Concept Plan and Feasibility Report by end of December, 2007.
• As decided in COI in their meeting on 15-06-07, issues of inter-agency nature have been discussed in the first meeting of the Empowered Committee held on 17-10-2007 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary. Three Sub-committees under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Chief Secretary, GNCTD and Member Engineering, Railway Board respectively have been formed to resolve specific issues pertaining to DDA/NDMC/DUAC/MCD, Delhi Police/Government of Delhi and implementation of the project.

(b) Model stations

Besides, 587 stations have been identified for development as Model stations, out of which 157 stations have already been developed and the remaining stations would be developed in near future.  Model stations are provided with higher level of amenities to provide greater customer satisfaction, e.g. improved retiring rooms, waiting halls, cloak room, Enquiry & Computer based announcements, Interactive voice response system, Public address system, Book stalls, Refreshment Room, Washable apron, Train Indication Board, Public phones, internet, Touch screen, water coolers, water vending machines, modular catering stalls, Automatic vending machines, Pay & use toilets, computerization of complaints, etc.  

            (c) Modernization of stations (Touch & Feel scheme)

As announced by Hon’ble MR in budget speech, 334 were identified during 2006-07 for making them modern stations.  Further, 304 stations in addition to above, have been identified to be developed as modern stations for improving general aesthetics and passenger conveniences.  Areas identified for improvement are:

(i)                  Improvements in the façade of station building.

(ii)                Improvement in the circulating area so as to ensure proper entry and exit of vehicles etc.

(iii)               A lighting tower at an appropriate place for proper illumination.

(iv)              Improved, modern, cost effective lighting arrangements at the platforms, concourse etc.

(v)                Renovated water booths.

(vi)              Renovated, modern Pay and Use toilets.

(vii)             Good Waiting and Retiring rooms with modern furniture.

(viii)           Good Passenger Guidance System including Signages and Coach Indication Boards.

(ix)              Improvement to the platform surface.

(x)                Improvement of Booking and Inquiry offices to give them a face lift.

(xi)              Lighting of Booking Office, the Queuing area in front of booking windows and

(xii)             Engage reputed Architect/Consultant for beautification.

Present Status

      Station modernization work has so far been completed at the following 271 stations:

List of the 271 stations selected where modernization works have been completed

CR (12)	Daund, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Dadar, Kalyan, Manmad, Nasik Road, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Akola, Nagpur.
ER (20)	Howrah, Barddhaman, Rampurhat, Bolpur, Tarakeswar, Sealdah, Bidhannagar Road, Dum Dum Jn., Barasat, Ranaghat, Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Sahibganj, New Farakka, Asansol, Durgapur, Jasidih, Madhupur, Baidyanathdham.
ECR (23)	Rajendra Nagar, Ara, Mokama, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Raxaul, Motihari, Sitamarhi, Hajipur, Muzffarpur, Barauni, Begusarai, Khagaria, Dhanbad, Koderma, Barkakana, Daltonganj, Parasnath, Mughalsarai, Sasaram, Gaya, Dehri-on-sone, Anugrah Narayan Road.
ECoR (5)	Bhubaneswar, Puri, Titlagarh, Kantabanji, Bolangir.
NR (17)	New Delhi, Meerut City, Ludhiana, Jalandhar City, Amritsar, Firozpur, Jamu Tawi, Ambala Cantt., Chadigarh, Shimla, Bhatinda, Saharanpur, Dhuri, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Rai-Bareilly, Prayag.
NCR (14)	Agra Cantt., Mathura, Agra Fort, Raja ki Mandi, Kosikalan, Jhansi,  Gwalior, Banda, Orai, Dholpur, Aligarh Jn. Allahabad Jn., Kanpur Central, Mirzapur.
NER (15)	Gorakhpur, Lucknow Jn. Gonda, Lakhimpur, Badshah Nagar, Chapra Jn., Siwan Jn.,  Deoria Sadar, Manduadih, Azamgarh, Haldwani, Lalkuan, Rudrapur City, Kashipur, Mathura Cantt.
NFR (17)	Goalpara Town, New Bongaigaon, Rangiya, Dibrugarh Town, New Tinsukia,  Mariani Jn., Simaluguri Jn., New Jalpaiguri, Kishanganj, Darjeeling, Raiganj, New Alipurduar, Kokrajhar, Newmal Jn., Dimapur, Silchar, Hojai
NWR (20)	Ajmer, Udaipur City, Abu Road, Falna, Rani, Bikaner, Hissar, Sri Ganganagar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Jaipur, Rewari, Alwar, Bandikui, Dausa, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pali Marwar, Barmer, Nagaur.
SR (17)	Chengalpattu, Katpadi, Tambaram, Triuttani, Erode, Coimbatore, Palghat, Mangalore, Pondicherry, Virudhachalam, Tiruchchirappalli Jn., Thanjavur,  Dindigul, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar
SCR (30)	Ongole, Vijayawada, Rajamundry, Nellore, Kakinada Town, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Kazipet, Khammam, Warangal, Kacheguda, Kurnool Town, Nizamabad, Basar, Mahbubnagar, Tirupati, Guntakal, Raichur, Cuddapah, Anantapur, Guntur, Nalgonda, Nandyal, Nadikudi, Narasaraopet,  Nanded, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Partur.
SER (11)	Kharagpur, Balasore, Mindnapore, Santragachi, Mecheda, Chakradharpur, Purulia, Ranchi, Haita, Muri, Ramgarh-Cantt.
SECR (14)	Bilaspur, Raigarh, Champa, Shahdol, Korba, Raipur, Durg, Bhatapara, Tilda, Bhilai Power House, Gondia, Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, Tumsar Road.
SWR (15)	Mysore, Davanagere, Shimoga Town,  Hassan, Haveri, Hubli, Belgaum, Vasco, Hospet, Bellary, Bangalore City, Yeshwantpur,  Bangalore Cant., Mandya, Tumkur.
WR (27)	Surat, Vapi, Navsari, Bandra Terminus, Mumbai Central, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain, Ahmedabad, Gandhidham, New Bhuj, Palanpur, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Than, Wankaner, Bhavnagar, Veraval, Porbandar, Junagarh, Gandhigram.
WCR (14)	Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Maihar, Sagour, Bhopal, Itarsi, Guna, Bina, Sawaimadhopur, Bhawanimandi, Bayana, Bharatpur, Gangapur City.

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