Indian Railways has unveiled a mega project of ‘Major Upgradation and Beautification of Railway Stations’. In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha recently, the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that the facilities envisaged in this scheme include user-friendly signages, well illuminated circulating area, rebuilding, improvement, augmentation of the station building, congestion-free non-conflicting entry/exit to the station premises, segregation of arrival/departure of passengers, adequate concourse without overcrowding, integration of both sides of the city wherever feasible, and sufficient provision for drop off, pick up & parking etc., and all facilities of Divyangjans among other facilities as per requirement and feasibility.
Earlier, Indian Railway stations were upgraded/modernized under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme based on identified need of providing better-enhanced passenger amenities at stations. Various passenger amenities include improvement to the façade of the station building, signages, landscaping of the circulating area, earmarked parking, revamp of retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities), separate waiting room for ladies, Pay & Use toilets, Foot Over Bridge, ramps at the entry to station etc. have been provided at these Railway stations.
The Railway Ministry has formulated various schemes viz. Model, Modern and Adarsh Station Scheme for upgradation, beautification, modernization of stations on Indian Railways. Under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme, 1253 stations have been identified for development, out of which 1213 stations so far have been developed and the remaining stations are targeted to be developed under Adarsh Station Scheme by Financial Year 2022-23
‘Model’ station scheme was in vogue from 1999 to 2008. Initially, one station per Division of Indian Railways was selected under the scheme. In the year 2006, the criteria were revised to include all ‘A’ and ‘B’ category stations based on the annual passenger earnings under the scheme. Under this scheme, 594 stations were selected for upgradation. Out of these, 590 stations have already been developed. ‘Modern’ station scheme was in vogue from 2006-07 to 2007-08. Under this scheme, 637 stations were selected for up-gradation which has already been developed.
