Jaipur’s railway station now echoes the Hawa Mahal. Over a thousand stations across India are getting similar makeovers, one region’s heritage built right into the platform.
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Indian Geography · IndGeo0115
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Redeveloping over 1,300 railway stations, heritage-first
Dec 2022
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is conceived by the Ministry of Railways.
6 Aug 2023
The scheme is formally launched, targeting 1,275 stations for redevelopment.
22 May 2025
PM Modi dedicates the first batch: 103 redeveloped stations across 18 States and UTs.
18 Jul 2026
PM Modi dedicates a second batch: 75 stations across 20 States, worth ₹1,570 crore.
1,309
stations identified
₹24,470 Cr
total estimated cost
178
stations dedicated so far
A station, not just a platform
Jaipur’s redeveloped station draws on the Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort. Each Amrit Bharat station is meant to reflect its own region’s heritage, not a single national template.
Timeline
- December 2022: The Ministry of Railways conceives the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
- 6 August 2023: The scheme is formally launched, initially targeting 1,275 stations.
- December 2023: The target expands to 1,309 identified stations.
- 22 May 2025: PM Modi dedicates the first batch: 103 stations across 18 States and Union Territories.
- 18 July 2026: PM Modi dedicates a second batch: 75 stations across 20 States.
Must Know
- The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme was launched by the Ministry of Railways on 6 August 2023.
- It aims to redevelop 1,309 stations across India, at an estimated total cost exceeding ₹24,470 crore.
- On 22 May 2025, PM Modi dedicated the first batch of 103 redeveloped stations, across 18 States and Union Territories.
- On 18 July 2026, PM Modi dedicated a second batch of 75 stations, across 20 States. This batch was redeveloped at a combined cost of about ₹1,570 crore.
- Station redesigns draw on local culture and heritage. Jaipur’s station, for instance, echoes the Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort.
- Redeveloped stations include modern waiting halls, wider foot overbridges, air concourses, digital passenger information systems, and Divyangjan-friendly infrastructure like ramps, tactile pathways, and lifts.
Good to Know
- The scheme focuses on modern passenger amenities, efficient traffic circulation, and seamless multimodal integration with other transport.
- Redevelopment also connects stations to both sides of the city they sit in, rather than treating the station as a one-sided facility.
- Long-term plans envision some stations evolving into local “city centres,” not just transit points.
- The scheme also incorporates sustainable and eco-friendly design elements into station redevelopment.
- Between the two nationwide dedication events (May 2025 and July 2026), 178 stations have been formally dedicated so far, out of the 1,309 identified.
- The scheme is distinct from track or signalling upgrades. It focuses specifically on station buildings and passenger experience.
Test Yourself
Great to Know
- The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme sits within India’s wider railway modernisation push. See IndGeo0087 — Indian Railways for the broader picture.
- Redeveloping in phased batches, rather than all at once, has a practical benefit. It lets the scheme show visible progress every year or two, keeping attention on a multi-year infrastructure project.
- Local-heritage-inspired station design is a deliberate departure from a single national template. It treats each station as a civic landmark for its own city, not just a functional building.
- Pairing accessibility features with heritage design shows two priorities working together. A station can honour local history while still being usable for a wheelchair user or a visually impaired passenger.
- Upgrading existing stations is one lever for better rail travel; building all-new dedicated corridors is another. See IndGeo0116 — NAMO Bharat: India’s First Regional Rapid Transit System.
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