Nagpur/New Delhi: Ahead of the model code of conduct for general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dedicated, laid foundation stones, and inaugurated more than 2,000 railway infra projects worth around Rs 41,000 crore in online mode.
The projects include 1,500 RUB/ROBs and 554 Amrit Bharat stations. Of these, projects worth over Rs 2,150 crore were dedicated under the jurisdiction of Nagpur divisions of South East Central Railway (SECR) and Central Railway (CR). The projects include 36 and 64 RUBs and ROBs under Central Railway and SECR respectively.
Most of the ROBs and RUBs have already been constructed over the years and many are already in use, but these were formally commissioned on Monday.
The PM laid foundation stone for 12 Amrit Bharat stations including the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Station. Earlier, stones for three stations — Wadsa, Chanda Fort and Gondia — had been already laid on August 6, 2023. The SECR will spend Rs 12.39 crore to redevelop Itwari station. The other stations that will be redeveloped include Tumsar (Rs 10.88 cr), Bhandara (Rs 7.7 cr), Kamptee (Rs 7.66 cr), and Aamgaon (Rs7.17 cr).
All stations will have modern passenger amenities like roof plaza, beautiful landscaping, inter modal connectivity, improved modern façade, kids play area, kiosks, food courts etc. They will be redeveloped as environment-friendly and also Divyang-friendly. The design of these buildings is inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.
The ROBs and RUBs will reduce congestion, enhance safety and connectivity, improve capacity, and efficiency of rail travel. It will also curb environmental pollution. The Centre has earmarked Rs 15,554 crore for the railway infrastructure projects in Maharashtra in 2024-25. In the budget, 56 railway stations will be redeveloped.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said these projects aim to transform the Railway infrastructure of the country. While inaugurating the projects, PM Modi said that the scale and speed with which work is being done in the country has surprised everyone. He said that today’s India doesn’t dream small. “Today’s program is a symbol of the new work culture of the new India. Whatever India does today… it does that at unprecedented speed and an unprecedented scale. Today’s India has stopped seeing small dreams. We dream big and work day and night to fulfill them. This determination is visible in this developed India, developed railway programme,” said PM Modi.
