On February 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will essentially lay the groundwork for the reconstruction of ten railway stations in the Vijayawada division as part of the second phase of the Amrit Bharat Stations Scheme (ABSS).
Ten of the 554 stations under the ABSS nationwide that Mr. Modi will be laying the groundwork for are located in the Vijayawada division. On February 26, in Vijayawada, Governor S. Abdul Nazeer will take part in the programme at the Gunadala railway station.
Gudivada, Rajahmundry, Elamanchili, Bapatla, Anaparthi, Gunadala, Chirala, Machilipatnam, Samalkot, and Rayanapadu were the ten railway stations chosen for the programme. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Narendra A. Patil declared during a press conference on February 25 in Vijayawada that “the stations will be redeveloped with ₹406.98 crore.”
“Besides, 25 Rail Underpasses, estimated at a cost of ₹160.39 crore, will be constructed and dedicated to the nation on February 26,” the DRM said. “The Rail Underpasses will increase safety, maintain punctuality and reduce stress on the loco pilots,” Mr. Patil said.
“Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, waiting halls, wi-fi, lifts and escalators, executive lounges, premium modular toilets, modern signage arrangements, extensive cover over the platforms, water kiosks, circulating area, lighting system and other facilities will be provided and developed in the selected railway stations,” he said.
“The Rajahmundry railway station will be developed with ₹246.7 crore. A foot over bridge, crew building, parcel godown, station buildings for Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) will be constructed on the station premises,” the DRM explained.
At a cost of ₹270 crore in the Vijayawada division, 11 stations—including Anakapalle, Bhimavaram Town, Eluru, Kakinada Town, Narsapur, Nidadavolu, Ongole, Singarayakonda, Tadepalligudem, Tenali, and Tuni station—were identified for rehabilitation in the first phase of the ABS Scheme.
According to Mr. Patil, “the works were under progress in the eleven stations.” In attendance were Senior Divisional Commercial Manager V. Rambabu, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Valleswara B. Tholaka, Additional DRMs M. Srikanth and D. Srinivas Rao, and other personnel.
