37 railway stations in West Bengal to be redeveloped, to cost Rs 1,503 crore
Kolkata (PTI): Thirty-seven railway stations in West Bengal will be redeveloped as part of the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' at a cost of Rs 1,503 crore, officials said.
These are among the 508 stations in 27 states, the foundation stone for the redevelopment of which will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
Among the stations in West Bengal are Sealdah, Malda Town, Bolpur, Barddhaman Junction, New Alipurduar, New Mal Junction, Tarakeswar and Rampurhat Junction, officials said.
The redevelopment of the 37 stations in the state will cost Rs 1,503 crore, while the total project cost is Rs 24,470 crore, they said.
The redevelopment project will install modern passenger amenities apart from ensuring a well-designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and well-designed signage for the guidance of passengers, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said, adding the design of station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.
The 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' was launched to redevelop 1,309 stations. As part of this scheme, the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 stations is being laid by the prime minister.
"These stations will be redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 24,470 crore. Master Plans are being prepared for development of these stations as 'City Centres', with proper integration of both sides of the city. This integrated approach is driven by the holistic vision of overall urban development of the city, centred around the railway station," the PMO said.
Launched in December 2022, the Amrit Bharat station scheme aims to prepare a masterplan for railway stations and implement it in a phased manner to enhance facilities.
The facilities intended to be developed at the stations include foot-overbridges, escalators and elevators, two-wheeler and car parking areas, landscaping/horticulture, integrated passenger information system, signages, improvement of platforms and platform shelters, benches and washbasins, better illumination and power supply arrangements, and CCTV, among others.
The scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach.
The stations are slated to have upgraded amenities such as improved access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes such as 'One Station One Product'.
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J-K youth will show exit door to 'Modi & Company' on Oct 1: Mallikarjun Kharge
New Delhi, Sep 1: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday claimed "deception" is the only policy of the BJP for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and that they will show the door to "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and company" in the upcoming polls.
In his post on X, Kharge said the youth unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was a staggering 28.2 per cent (PLFS) in March.
"Deception is the only policy of the BJP for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir!" he said.
"Many exam paper leaks, bribes and rampant corruption have delayed hiring across departments for four years now. An astounding 65% of government department posts in Jammu & Kashmir remain vacant since 2019," Kharge claimed.
In Jammu and Kashmir, over 60,000 government daily wagers have been toiling for more than 15 years, earning a meagre Rs 300 per day, he said.
"Despite their long-standing service, they remain on contract basis, even in essential departments such as Power, Public Health, and Engineering, highlighting the precarious nature of the job crisis," the Congress leader said.
Even though the BJP promised industry in Jammu and Kashmir, the union territory has no major manufacturing units, he said.
The private sector is confined to providing services in farming, hospitality and health, he said.
"Despite the introduction of the New Industrial Policy in 2021, a mere 3% of investments have materialised on the ground. 40% of projects under the PM's Development Package, 2015, remain pending," Kharge said.
"On October 1, Youth of J&K will show the Exit Door to Modi & Company!" he said.
Elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1 and the results declared on October 8.
Deception is the only policy of the BJP for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir!
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 1, 2024
🔸Youth Unemployment rate in Jammu & Kashmir as on March 2024 is a staggering 28.2%. (PLFS)
🔸Many exam paper leaks, bribes and rampant corruption have delayed hiring across departments for 4 years now.… pic.twitter.com/edf5ox2uGx
