'No Increased Fare In The Name Of Station Redevelopment': Rail Minister Vaishnaw On Revamp Project

Talking about the revamping of 508 stations across the country, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said there has been no hike in fares in the name of the station redevelopment in the country.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said around Rs 25,000 crore required for the redevelopment project will be allocated through the current Budget.

Source : PTI

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the revamping of 508 stations across the country, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday remarked that there has been no hike in fares in the name of the station redevelopment project. Vaishnaw further said around Rs 25,000 crore required for the redevelopment project will be allocated through the current Budget while emphasising that the project’s main aim was to facilitate a smooth travelling experience for passengers from all sections of society.

Speaking at a press conference, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “PM Modi is working to elevate the lives of the common people. The aim of station redevelopment is the same. We want them to have world-class stations without any burden”, as quoted by PTI.

“We have not increased fare or fixed a fee in the name of station redevelopment,” he added.

These comments have come as the Railways has been planning to redevelop almost 1,300 prime stations in the country as ‘Amrit Bharat Stations’.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for 508 Amrit Bharat Stations. Under the initiative, 55 each such stations will be developed at the cost of about Rs 4,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 34 stations in Madhya Pradesh at approx Rs 1,000 crore, and 44 in Maharashtra at 1,500 crore. 

Apart from these, many railway stations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and other states, will be redeveloped. Vaishnaw also said that the Railways is training around 9,000 engineers to be part of the station redevelopment project to update them on the nitty-gritty of the project which includes analysis of contract documents, architecture, design, and safety.

“There has been no discrimination against any state for this project. Over the next two years, we will be able to see substantial progress in the work. We believe in equitable development,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

The  Railways Minister also emphasised that PM Modi has always said the foundation stone of the project will be laid and inaugurated. He also explained the speed at which the government plans to complete the project.