KOLKATA – In a written response to the Lok Sabha today, April 1, 2026, Union Minister for Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw detailed the extensive progress of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) in West Bengal. Out of 1,338 stations identified nationally, 102 stations are located within West Bengal, falling under the jurisdiction of the Eastern, Northeast Frontier, South Eastern, and Metro Railway zones.
The scheme focuses on a long-term master plan to transform railway hubs into modern, multimodal transit centers.
Completed and High-Progress Stations
The Minister corrected reports of slow progress, noting that development is moving at a “good pace.”
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Completed Stations: Total transformation works have already been concluded at Anara, Barabhum, Haldia, Haldibari, Joychandi Pahar Jn, Kalyani Ghoshpara, Kamakhyaguri, Panagarh, Siuri, and Tamluk.
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Major Ongoing Projects: * New Jalpaiguri: Structural work for the departure building (up to the 4th floor), arrival buildings, and podium parking are complete; work on the 5th and 6th floors and an air concourse is underway.
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Jalpaiguri & Dalkhola: 12-meter wide Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) and platform shelters are complete; installation of lifts and escalators is currently in progress.
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Balurghat: Improvements to the station building, portico, and waiting rooms are finished.
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Key Features of the Redevelopment
The ABSS master plans include:
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Modern Amenities: Executive lounges, business meeting spaces, and landscaping.
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Accessibility: Lifts, escalators, and specialized amenities for Divyangjans.
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Integration: Multi-modal connectivity, improved circulating areas, and integration with both sides of the host city.
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Local Economy: “One Station One Product” kiosks to promote local craftsmanship.
Funding and Implementation Challenges
The Minister highlighted that station redevelopment is a complex “brownfield” process that must balance passenger safety with active train operations.
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Financial Allocation: For the 2025-26 fiscal year, a revised estimate of ₹1,184 crore was allocated for the relevant zones. Notably, expenditure has already reached ₹1,231 crore as of February 2026, exceeding the initial estimates to expedite work.
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Operational Hurdles: Progress is often subject to statutory clearances (heritage, forest, and airport) and the technical challenge of shifting underground utilities like optical fiber cables and gas pipelines without disrupting rail traffic.
Minister Vaishnaw reaffirmed that the modernization of Indian Railways is a continuous process, with West Bengal remaining a high-priority region for infrastructure investment in the 2026-27 period.
