Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Source: The Hindu
GS III: Infrastructure

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
3. Indian Railway Sector

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations spread across the country.

News in Brief

• This is slated to be one of the biggest foundation stone-laying ceremonies in the country and the Indian Railways is working hard to pull off the mammoth task.
• It will boost ‘Ease of Living’ and enhance comfort as well as convenience.
• Special care has also been taken to ensure the stations are in line with local culture, heritage, and architecture.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

• The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a project that aims to renovate railway stations.
• It attempts to continuously upgrade the infrastructure of certain railway stations.
• 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories
  • Including 55 each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37 in West Bengal, 34 in Madhya Pradesh, 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 15 in Haryana, and 13 in Karnataka, among others.
• Improve connection, offer amenities for people with disabilities, and integrating stations with urban areas are all goals of the plan.
• The project’s goal is to create a master plan for the stations, and work on it will be done in stages.
• Executive lounges are part of the plan, which also aims to improve the passenger information system.
• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which has a budget of Rs 24,470 crore as per the government.

Indian Railway Sector

• The Indian Railway Sector is one of the largest and most extensive railway networks in the world.
• It is operated by the state-owned Indian Railways, which comes under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
• Indian Railways is responsible for the management, operation, and development of the railway infrastructure across the country.

Key features of the Indian Railway Sector

1. Network Size: Indian Railways operates on a vast network covering almost the entire Indian subcontinent. It connects major cities, towns, and remote areas, making it a crucial mode of transportation for millions of people.
2. Divisions and Zones: The railway network is divided into various divisions and zones to ensure efficient management and operations. Each zone is responsible for a specific geographical area.
3. Passenger Services: Indian Railways provides passenger services catering to various travel needs, including long-distance trains, suburban trains in metropolitan areas, and luxury trains like the Palace on Wheels and Maharajas’ Express.
4. Freight Transport: The railways play a significant role in freight transport, carrying goods like coal, minerals, grains, industrial products, and more across the country. Dedicated freight corridors are being developed to enhance the efficiency of freight transportation.
5. Technological Advancements: Indian Railways has been incorporating modern technologies to improve safety, efficiency, and passenger experience. This includes the introduction of high-speed trains like the Vande Bharat Express (also known as Train 18) and initiatives to digitize ticketing and reservation systems.
6. Modernization and Expansion: The Indian government has been investing in modernizing the railway infrastructure, upgrading tracks, signaling systems, and introducing better rolling stock to enhance the overall efficiency and safety of the network.
7. Railway Budget: Until 2016, the Indian Railways had a separate Railway Budget presented by the Ministry of Railways in the Indian Parliament. However, starting in 2017, the Railway Budget was merged with the General Budget of India.

Summary as Infographics

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