Modi set to unveil massive railway initiative

23 Feb 2024 CW Team

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.

Infrastructure Urban

13 Mar 2026

Implementation Status of Jal Jeevan Mission

Since August 2019 the Government has implemented Jal Jeevan Mission to provide assured potable water through household tap connections in rural India. At the start of the mission only 32.3 million (mn) rural households, representing 16.7 per cent, were reported to have tap water connections. States and union territories have reported that 125.8 mn additional rural households have since been provided with tap connections. As a result, of about 193.6 mn rural households roughly 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water supply at home.\n\nThe State, district and village level st..

Jal Jeevan Mission Reaches Eighty One Per Cent Rural Coverage

The Government reported substantial progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019 to provide tap water to every rural household. At launch only 32.3 million (mn) rural households had tap connections and states and Union territories reported provision of 125.8 mn additional households by March 2026. Consequently, out of about 193.6 mn rural households around 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water at home. The Finance Minister announced extension of the mission until 2028 in the 2025-26 budget speech. The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen, launched in October 20..

Empowering Local Governance for Sustainable Rural Water Supply

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has aligned the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) with the 73rd Amendment to strengthen village level planning and community ownership of water supply. Gram Panchayats, village water and sanitation committees and Pani Samitis are to plan, implement, manage and maintain piped water systems, with gram sabha processes formalising handover and oversight. Implementation support agencies including non government organisations, community based organisations and self help groups have been empanelled to train local committees and promote women participation. Under JJM, the department ..