Chandigarh, Sept 28: Railway infrastructure upgrade is progressing rapidly across the region, with key stations in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh featured among 75 redeveloped locations recently completed under the Union Government’s Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of Rs 1,570 crore.
Across Punjab, major structural enhancements have been executed at Jalandhar Cantt, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Sri Anandpur Sahib, and Sri Muktsar Sahib. In neighboring Haryana, Kalka and Narwana have undergone comprehensive upgrades, while Amb Andaura station in Himachal Pradesh has similarly seen completed works. Furthermore, four prominent transit points in Jammu and Kashmir, including Budgam, Jammu Tawi, Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, are currently advancing through various stages of modernization.
At Jammu Tawi, operational improvements include a second entry building, expanded platform shelters, an electrical sub-station, an entrance ramp, and overhauled parking facilities. Budgam station has completed circulating area enhancements and access road works while construction continues on a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge, upgraded waiting halls, and executive lounges. Upgrades at Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan station encompass refreshed station buildings, improved sanitation, new signage, and refined waiting facilities, while master planning remains underway for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
Launched by the Railway Ministry in December 2022, the scheme targets the long-term master planning of 1,340 stations nationwide, shifting the focus from minor facelifts to establishing integrated city transit hubs. Official records show that 261 stations have been redeveloped under the programme to date.
The initiative prioritizes upgraded station buildings, wider overbridges, Divyangjan-accessible design, integrated executive lounges, and modern passenger information setups funded through Plan Head-53 for Customer Amenities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously dedicated 103 redeveloped stations across 18 States and Union Territories on May 22, 2025, during an earlier phase of the nationwide roll-out.
