Amritsar, May 14 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Thursday announced the redevelopment of the Amritsar railway station to a world-class station with an estimated cost of Rs 402 crore.

It will transform the station into a modern, passenger-friendly, and future-ready transport hub. In addition, Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for reconstruction and augmentation of additional five platforms.

Thanking Prime minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw for giving Punjab this big gift, Ravneet Singh said here that the redevelopment plan has been carefully designed to combine modern infrastructure with the rich cultural identity of Punjab and the spiritual aura of Amritsar.

Under the comprehensive master plan, major yard remodelling and augmentation works are proposed to cater to future passenger and operational requirements.

The station will be expanded with five additional platforms — two on the northern side and three on the southern side — along with five additional passenger loop lines to improve train handling capacity and reduce congestion.

He said to support modern rail operations a new Vande Bharat maintenance shed will also be developed in Amritsar, further strengthening state’s railway infrastructure and operational efficiency.

The station buildings themselves are being envisioned as landmarks of modern architecture. A state-of-the-art G+10 station building with seven commercial floors is proposed on the northern side, while a spacious G+3 station building will be developed on the southern side.

These facilities will provide enhanced passenger amenities, seamless circulation, and modern commercial spaces that will contribute to local economic growth and employment generation.

Passenger convenience and accessibility remain central to the redevelopment vision. Two new subways connecting the northern and southern sides of the station will ensure safe and smooth movement across platforms.

Modern lifts and escalators will improve accessibility for senior citizens, divyangjan, women, and children.

Extensive external development is also planned, including upgraded parking facilities, improved traffic circulation systems, and modern covered drop-off zones directly connected to the station buildings.

The Union minister was here to flag off Amrit Bharat Express between Amritsar and New Jalpaiguri from here. The launch of this train service marks a major step towards strengthening rail connectivity between northern India and eastern India.

The train will significantly benefit migrant workers, students, businessmen, tourists, pilgrims, and families travelling between Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal by providing affordable, comfortable, and modern long-distance travel facilities.

The service will directly connect important cities and towns, including Ludhiana, Ambala, Gorakhpur, Raxaul, Sitamarhi, Forbesganj, Siliguri and several other important destinations.

Ravneet Singh said that the Amrit Bharat Express is a modern non-AC train specially designed for common passengers, offering premium long-distance travel experience at economical fares.

Commenting on the ongoing activities, he said Punjab today is witnessing railway development at an unprecedented scale.

The railway budget allocation for Punjab has increased to Rs 5,673 crore in 2026-27, nearly 25 times higher than the annual average allocation during 2009-14.

Projects of over Rs 26,000 crore are currently under execution across the state.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 30 railway stations across the state are being redeveloped with world-class passenger amenities. Major stations, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali, Anandpur Sahib, and Muktsar, are undergoing extensive modernisation.

The redevelopment of the Chandigarh railway station at a cost of Rs 462 crore is among the flagship projects being executed by Rail Land Development Authority.

–IANS

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