Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the foundation stone laying ceremony for 28 stations on the Eastern Railway, part of a Rs 704 crore scheme, on February 26, according to General Manager Eastern Railway Milind K Deouskar. The announcement was made during a press briefing at the Eastern Railway Headquarters, where Deouskar provided insights into the ongoing development work, including station redevelopment and construction of Road Overbridges (ROBs)/underpasses across Indian Railways.
Deouskar highlighted the government’s vision of ‘Viksit Rail, Viksit Bharat 2047’ and the Prime Minister’s commitment to station redevelopment under the ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.’ He informed that Prime Minister Modi had previously laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 stations in 27 states on August 6, 2023. Building upon this initiative, the upcoming event on February 26 will witness the foundation stone laying for 28 stations on the Eastern Railway at a cost of Rs 704 crore.
One of the major redevelopment projects mentioned by Deouskar is the transformation of Bandel station into a world-class facility, involving an estimated expenditure of Rs 307 crore. The Eastern Railway has prioritized infrastructure development, completing the Rampurhat – Murarai 3rd Line (29.48 KM) successfully and commissioning it on December 21, 2023.
Additionally, Deouskar emphasized the government’s commitment to providing modern amenities and world-class facilities, aligning with global standards. The ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’ aims to enhance passenger facilities, including wide foot-over bridges, frontage improvements, waiting areas, CCTV surveillance, food kiosks, divyangjan-friendly toilets, ramps, signages, and escalators.
Under this scheme, stations in the Sealdah, Howrah, Asansol, and Malda divisions are allocated funds for redevelopment. Notably, Bandel station, a crucial junction connecting Howrah and branch lines toward Barddhaman, Katwa, and Naihati, is earmarked for redevelopment into a world-class facility with a budget of Rs 307 crore.
Moreover, the Eastern Railway is actively working on eliminating manned level crossing gates through the construction of underpasses. The completion of 11 underpasses and the forthcoming construction of 22 underpasses at a total cost of Rs 123.52 crores is aimed at ensuring safety for passengers and road users.
Prime Minister Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for 1585 underpasses across Indian Railways, including 31 underpasses in the Eastern Railway jurisdiction. These underpasses are designed with sufficient height to accommodate carts loaded with produce, facilitating ease of living for villagers and promoting seamless movement across railway tracks.
