Amrit Bharat Stations: 12 of 61 in Karnataka completed, Parliament told

Only 12 of the 61 railway stations in Karnataka identified for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) have seen completion of works, according to a reply by the Union Railway Minister in the Rajya Sabha. The reply, tabled on Friday, reveals that across the country, 261 of the 1,340 stations chosen for the scheme have been completed so far—roughly 19% of the total.

Responding to an unstarred question from Rajya Sabha member Mansoor Ali Khan, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided figures as on date showing that work at the remaining stations is at various stages of progress. The scheme was announced in December 2022, making it nearly three and a half years old.

Congress MP Mansoor Ali Khan said the figures indicate that implementation has proceeded at a much slower pace than projected. He noted that repeated announcements and foundation-laying ceremonies have not translated into completed outcomes. “Over the past three years, the public has repeatedly witnessed announcements and foundation-laying ceremonies for station redevelopment. However, the latest figures placed before Parliament indicate that actual project completion remains far behind the ambitious targets that were publicised,” he said.

In Karnataka, the list of completed stations includes Alnavar, Badami, Bagalkot, Bantwal, Dharwad, Gadag, Gokak Road, Hosapete, Koppal, Munirabad, Ranibennur and Subrahmanya Road.

Mr. Khan also raised concerns about transparency. He said that despite seeking station-wise project costs, contract award dates and year-wise progress for completed stations, the Ministry did not furnish this information. He argued that absence of these details makes it difficult for Parliament and the public to independently evaluate the pace of implementation, expenditure and overall performance of the scheme.

The Minister explained that development works under ABSS are complex and involve passenger and train safety. He cited the need for statutory clearances such as tree cutting, heritage, fire and airport clearances. Since the identified stations are already operational, brownfield work faces challenges including shifting of utilities, infringements, and ensuring train operations continue without hindering passenger movement. Speed restrictions are also imposed when work is carried out close to tracks and near high-voltage lines. These factors, he said, affect the pace of work and completion time.

The reply underscores the gap between the ambitious goals of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and the ground reality. While infrastructure investment is essential, the ultimate assessment, as the MP noted, must rest on completed outcomes and transparent reporting.