The Centre has sanctioned Rs 402 crore for the complete redevelopment of the Amritsar railway station, alongside an additional Rs 100 crore dedicated specifically to building new platforms and expanding the station’s capacity.
As announced by MP Ravneet Bittu, the project, which is an extension of the Amritsar railway station redevelopment project approved by the PM Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, includes the construction of five new platforms — two on the north side, and three on the south — and five additional passenger loop lines to significantly reduce congestion.
The approved plans in Phase 2 outline a 10-storey (G+10) station building with seven commercial floors on the north side, and a 3-storey (G+3) building on the south side with operational upgrades. The project includes major yard remodelling, and the development of a new maintenance shed tailored to Vande Bharat trains.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Shwet Malik on Tuesday held an interaction with residents, explaining the details of the project.
After the Modi-led
government had passed the project, worth Rs 1,000 crore, development
works worth approximately up to Rs 500 crore were completed in Phase 1.
“The station had only five platforms, which prevented new trains from arriving. In Phase 1, two new platforms — 6 and 7 — were constructed, and the Delhi–Amritsar Vande Bharat train began running. Now, in Phase 2, five new platforms are going to be constructed, bringing the total to 12,” Malik said.
A Civil Lines parking will be developed to accommodate 390 cars, 415 scooters, and 85 auto-rickshaws.
Similarly, parking will be constructed for 210 cars, 200 scooters, and 25 auto-rickshaws at Gol Bagh.
A three-storey building will be constructed in Gol Bagh, and would house telephone exchange, parcel booking, and post offices, as well as retiring rooms, railway officials’ offices, a train drivers’ restroom, a police station, and a health club.
Malik said two pedestrian underpasses would be built in the basement beneath the railway tracks, connecting Platform 1 (Civil Lines) to Platform 12 (Gol Bagh).
“48 residential flats will be built in Gol Bagh for railway employees, and a shed will be constructed for the maintenance of Vande Bharat trains, which will enable the Modi-led government to provide more Vande Bharat and high-speed trains to Amritsar residents in future,” he said.
The redevelopment work on the Rigo Bridge connecting Civil Lines to the inner city was underway, and the newly constructed Rigo Bridge would be opened to public by December, he added.
