Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across 20 states from Jalandhar last evening. The stations were modernised under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, one of the world's largest station redevelopment programmes, at a cost of about Rs 15,700 million (mn). They have been converted into passenger friendly facilities that incorporate local culture, heritage and architecture under the spirit of Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi.

Redevelopments included Jalandhar Cantonment, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Sri Muktsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, and projects in Gujarat featured Pratapnagar, Godhra, Porbandar and Bhaktinagar. Odisha works covered Barpali, Balangir, Paralakhemundi, Talcher, Kesinga, Bimalgarh and Baripada, and nine stations were addressed under Southern Railway. The selection sought to improve regional connectivity and passenger circulation.

The Prime Minister flagged off the Kartoli-Ambala train service, intended to improve links across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and also flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express between Amritsar Chheharta and Varanasi to establish a direct rail connection between two cultural centres. The redeveloped stations and the two services formed part of rail and road infrastructure works worth over Rs 54,700 mn announced at Jalandhar. Officials said the investments aim to accelerate economic development and enhance mobility.

He also inaugurated the 30.9 km Package-6 of the four-lane greenfield Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and described the series of projects as reflecting the rapid transformation of Indian Railways. He noted that the Centre was focused on ensuring regional development and that projects would improve quality of life and create opportunities. The administration framed the work as guided by the principle of Nagrik Devo Bhava.

Earlier the same day India received its first hydrogen powered train when a passenger service from Jind station in Haryana was flagged; that service will run between Jind and Sonipat and cover the 89 km distance in two hours. The Prime Minister laid foundation stones and dedicated development projects worth around Rs 147,000 mn in Jind and later launched additional works valued at over Rs 47,000 mn in Chandigarh covering healthcare, education and road infrastructure.