New Delhi, 17 December (H.S.): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw asserted on Wednesday that executing station redevelopment sans halting rail operations constitutes a formidable engineering challenge, uniquely navigated by Indian Railways given its colossal passenger throughput.

During Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, responding to supplementary queries, Vaishnaw underscored that foreign precedents often entail suspending services for three to four years, a luxury untenable in India where approximately 7.5 crore individuals traverse the network daily.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, over 1,300 stations—bolstered by investments surpassing ₹60,000 crore—undergo transformation into world-class hubs via phased interventions prioritizing safety and seamless connectivity.

Vaishnaw highlighted 160 stations already revitalized, featuring enhanced facades, expanded circulation spaces, sustainable designs, and multimodal integration, all without compromising the lifeline's uninterrupted pulse.

This paradigm shift, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for batches including 103 stations earlier in 2025, exemplifies India's prowess in concurrent infrastructure elevation and operational resilience.

The minister affirmed ongoing momentum, with meticulous planning ensuring no disruption to the nation's rail-dependent populace.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar