Kerala: Six Railway Stations Get Major Facelift Under Amrit Bharat Scheme, PM to Inaugurate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations in Kerala on Friday via video conferencing, as part of the central government's Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). The stations—Tirur, Thalassery, Parappanangadi, Nilambur Road, Chalakudy, and Angamaly for Kalady—have been upgraded with modern amenities and improved infrastructure.

The inauguration will take place through a virtual ceremony, with local events planned at each station in the presence of elected representatives, officials, and community leaders. The redevelopment costs vary: Tirur station was upgraded at a cost of approximately ₹26 crore, Thalassery at over ₹22 crore, Parappanangadi at over ₹14 crore, Nilambur Road at ₹17 crore, Chalakudy at ₹8.87 crore, and Angamaly for Kalady at ₹9.28 crore.

These stations fall under the Palakkad Division (Tirur, Thalassery, Parappanangadi, Nilambur Road) and Thiruvananthapuram Division (Chalakudy, Angamaly for Kalady) of the Southern Railway. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme aims to redevelop 1,275 railway stations across India, with 115 stations identified in the Southern Railway zone. Prior to this, 24 redeveloped stations in the zone had already been inaugurated by the Prime Minister. With Friday's additions, the total number of Amrit Stations dedicated in the Southern Railway will rise to 33.

The scheme focuses on providing world-class facilities, including improved waiting halls, better signage, Wi-Fi, escalators, and enhanced accessibility for differently-abled passengers. The upgrades are intended to improve the travel experience and reflect the government's push for modernising railway infrastructure.