Latest news with #AmritBharatStationScheme
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Chikkamagaluru-Tirupati train service soon
Chikkamagaluru: A new weekly train service connecting Chikkamagaluru to Tirupati, was announced on Saturday by Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna via a post on social media platform X. This development promises to ease travel for devotees and strengthen ties between the coffee-rich hills of Karnataka and one of India's most revered pilgrimage destinations. The rail link, routed through Bengaluru, is expected to reduce the current 12- to 14-hour road journey to approximately 8-10 hours, offering a more efficient and comfortable alternative to buses and private vehicles. The initiative leveraged the town's proximity to the Kadur Railway junction for seamless integration into India's rail network. The new train service is anticipated to boost local commerce and tourism by improving accessibility, while providing safer travel options for those seeking blessings at Lord Venkateswara's temple. The town's railway station is also set for upgrades under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Local sentiment has welcomed the announcement as a vital step toward recognising Chikkamagaluru's growing importance. As the region awaits further details on the service's schedule, the initiative is poised to foster both spiritual and economic connections, bridging the serene hills of Chikkamagaluru with the divine aura of Tirupati.
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
Vaishnaw Flags off MEMU Train In Bengal, Says Centre's Focus On Expanding Railway Coverage
Last Updated: The minister highlighted that investment in railways in West Bengal increased from around Rs 4,380 crore in 2009-14 to around Rs 14,000 crore currently. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram and said the Centre's focus is to expand railway coverage besides modernising the sector. The minister highlighted that investment in railways in West Bengal increased from around Rs 4,380 crore in 2009-14 to around Rs 14,000 crore currently. He flagged off the train through video conferencing from Santragachi railway station in West Bengal. Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus is to expand railway coverage, modernise railways with technology, infrastructure and amenities and improve passenger experience. Around 12 lakh railway staffers are tirelessly working towards realising this dream, he said. The Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram would boost rural, local and regional rail connectivity and passenger convenience, he said. The service is set to improve daily commute options for thousands of passengers across Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura and surrounding districts. junctions in West Bengal, the train will not only ensure faster travel but also facilitate economic activity, he said. During the 2014-25 period, Kolkata Metro added 41 km to its network, compared to only 28 km between 1972, when the project started, and 2014. Underlining challenges related to land acquisition and traffic permission for Kolkata Metro and other railway projects, Vaishnaw urged the state government 'to rise above other things for the benefit of people". He referred to such challenges on the Kolkata Metro route at Kidderpore, Chingrighata and Beleghata area and also to the Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar rail route. Vaishnaw lauded the ongoing development of the Santragachi railway station as an Amrit Bharat station, especially the progress of work in the last one and a half years. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a long-term plan to improve railway stations across India in a step-by-step manner. 'The station is being modernised as a passenger and environment-friendly facility. It has been designed to handle over 50,000 passengers daily by 2063, in addition to ensuring time-bound train movement," he said. Lok Sabha MPs Prasun Banerjee and Saumitra Khan were also present in the programme, besides senior railway officials. First Published:
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Union minister Vaishnaw flags off Purulia–Bankura–Howrah MEMU train: ‘101 stations being upgraded'
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday virtually inaugurated the first Purulia–Bankura–Howrah MEMU train via Masagram, highlighting the Centre's drive to expand and modernise rail networks. He noted that currently the rail investment in West Bengal has risen from around rupees 4,380 crore in 2009–14 to about rupees 14,000 crore. The new service revives the historic Bankura–Damodar link, covering 283 km at a fare of just Rs 60—cheaper than the Rs 65 Kharagpur route. It will serve daily commuters, students, and traders by offering cleaner, faster travel between Purulia, Bankura, Masagram, and Howrah. Masagram now links the South Eastern Railway's Bankura–Masagram line with the Eastern Railway's Howrah–Bardhaman chord, promising improved access, tourism growth, and economic development across Purulia, Bankura, Hooghly, and Howrah districts. Vaishnaw also inspected redevelopment work at Santragachi Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to transform ageing stations into modern transit hubs with enhanced passenger amenities. 'In West Bengal alone, 101 stations are being upgraded at an extraordinary pace,' he said. 'This isn't just development—it's a new era for Indian Railways, replacing 50–60-year-old facilities with modern infrastructure that meets today's expectations for quality and experience.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Vaishnaw flags off MEMU train in Bengal, says Centre's focus on expanding railway coverage
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram and said the Centre's focus is to expand railway coverage besides modernising the sector. The minister highlighted that investment in railways in West Bengal increased from around Rs 4,380 crore in 2009-14 to around Rs 14,000 crore currently. He flagged off the train through video conferencing from Santragachi railway station in West Bengal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Key Components of the DDPP (See List) Decarbonization Pathways | Search Ads Read More Undo Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus is to expand railway coverage, modernise railways with technology, infrastructure and amenities and improve passenger experience. Around 12 lakh railway staffers are tirelessly working towards realising this dream, he said. Live Events The Purulia-Bankura-Howrah MEMU train via Masagram would boost rural, local and regional rail connectivity and passenger convenience, he said. The service is set to improve daily commute options for thousands of passengers across Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura and surrounding districts. By connecting key junctions in West Bengal, the train will not only ensure faster travel but also facilitate economic activity, he said. During the 2014-25 period, Kolkata Metro added 41 km to its network, compared to only 28 km between 1972, when the project started, and 2014. Underlining challenges related to land acquisition and traffic permission for Kolkata Metro and other railway projects, Vaishnaw urged the state government "to rise above other things for the benefit of people". He referred to such challenges on the Kolkata Metro route at Kidderpore, Chingrighata and Beleghata area and also to the Bishnupur-Tarakeshwar rail route. Vaishnaw lauded the ongoing development of the Santragachi railway station as an Amrit Bharat station, especially the progress of work in the last one and a half years. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is a long-term plan to improve railway stations across India in a step-by-step manner. "The station is being modernised as a passenger and environment-friendly facility. It has been designed to handle over 50,000 passengers daily by 2063, in addition to ensuring time-bound train movement," he said. Lok Sabha MPs Prasun Banerjee and Saumitra Khan were also present in the programme, besides senior railway officials.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Fare hike must not jolt affordable rail travel
Secondly, how can the railways justify even a minimal fare hike for general class passengers without ensuring them basic amenities? In 2024-25, of the 715 crore train passengers, a whopping 634 crore travelled on unreserved compartments. Thousands of viral videos on social media attest to their pathetic conditions of travel—severely overcrowded carriages, unusable toilets and dry water taps. Nearly all these passengers come from the bottom of the economic pyramid. The government's social service obligations should recommend holding the rate hike for this class till the conditions improve—such a hike risks marginalising crores of Indians who have no viable alternatives. Thirdly, funding the railways' need to maintain and modernise. For this, it should revisit non-fare revenue models and make freight operations more efficient before burdening poor travellers. The pricing model for top-end services can be revised while keeping basic travel affordable. Modernising stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme should help convert them into revenue hubs through advertising and enhanced services, as well as increasing private partnerships. Curbing delays can cut costs, but track renewal in the world's fourth largest network is woefully inadequate, resulting in superfast trains chugging well below their optimum speeds. Despite this, the railways' estimated capital expenditure this fiscal remains unchanged from the last. A new-age rail system must also focus more on long-term, multilateral infrastructure financing. As for the fare policy, it must hinge on a single criterion—mass affordability.
