Jammu: Four railway stations of Jammu and Kashmir including Jammu Tawi have been identified under Amrit Bharat Station scheme besides 28 stations in the union territory have made wifi enabled while the government also shared progress on the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link (USBRL) project.
Replying to a series of questions in the parliament, the government said that Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Udhampur and Budgam have been identified as Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, , which has been launched for development of Railway stations across the country.
“This scheme envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach which involves preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities at the stations,” it reads, adding, “Amenities like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’, better passenger information systems, executive lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc. keeping in view the necessity at each station will be coming up”.
The reply also stated that Railways have decided to provide free Wi-Fi at all railway stations and so far facility has been provided at 6108 stations including 28 in Jammu and Kashmir.
On progress of the ambitious rail link to Kashmir, the government said that of 272 kilometers Udhampur-Baramulla rail link, 161 kilometers already commissioned, which comprised nearly 60 percent of the project. The Centre said that Rs 26,786 Crore expenditure has been incurred till March 2022 out of the anticipated cost of Rs 37,012 Crore. It added that the project was sanctioned in 1994-95.
