Modi set to unveil massive railway initiative

On February 26, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the foundation stone laying ceremony for the development of 550 Amrit Bharat stations. This initiative aims to improve railway station amenities by introducing rooftop plazas and city centers, with an investment totaling Rs 400 billion, according to a PTI report. Additionally, during a virtual event broadcasted at over 2,000 railway stations, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for approximately 1,500 roads overbridges and underbridges across various states. He will participate in the function via video conferencing. Approximately 50,000 school students who participated in speech, essay, and poetry writing competitions on the theme ?2047 ? Viksit Bharat ki Railway,? organized by Indian Railways across 4,000 schools, will receive prizes. Nearly 400 thousand students partook in diverse competitions, and divisional railway managers and senior railway officers will distribute about 50,000 prizes during the event The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched to refurbish stations on Indian Railways, concentrating on enhancing amenities such as access, waiting halls, cleanliness, WiFi, and local product kiosks. The scheme encompasses executive lounges, business meeting spaces, landscaping, and integration with surrounding cities. It also emphasizes sustainability, proposing eco-friendly solutions, road widening, improved signage, pedestrian pathways, parking areas, lighting, and high-level platforms. Presently, 1,318 stations have been selected under the scheme, with a focus on major cities and towns.