NE BUSINESS BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAY 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit Bharat Stations on Thursday from Deshnoke in Bikaner, Rajasthan. These stations have been upgraded with modern amenities and redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme as city centres, showcasing regional culture and heritage.
Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, #Srirangam Railway Station gets a stunning makeover under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme!
A new era of #travel begins with 103 stations set for grand inauguration!#AmritStation #ViksitBharat #SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/7NaIU6mEtp
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) May 20, 2025
Out of these, 8 stations are in Tamil Nadu. They are Sulurpettai , Parangimalai ( St. Thomas Mount ), Chamalpatti , Chidambaram , Tiruvannamalai , Mannargudi , Srirangam , Virudhachalam , and Kulithurai are the Amrit Bharat stations in Tamil Nadu. Mahe will be one of the Amrit Bharat stations in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
He will virtually inaugurate five newly redeveloped railway stations under the Western Railway’s Vadodara division on May 22.
The stations – Dakor, Karamsad, Derol, Kosamba, and Utran — are part of the nationwide rollout under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), which aims to transform over 1,300 railway stations into state-of-the-art transit hubs. Launched two years ago, the ABSS focuses on enhancing passenger experience through modern facilities, improved accessibility, and architectural designs that celebrate local heritage and culture.
The five stations being unveiled have been redeveloped with a blend of sustainability, regional identity, and user convenience.
Dakor Station, a significant stop for pilgrims visiting the Shree Ranchhodrai Temple, now features eco-friendly structures and amenities tailored to religious tourism. Karamsad Station honours the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with a specially designed art wall and commemorative space.
13 Amrit Stations will be inaugurated in Southern Railway by PM through VC
Ceremonial functions will be held at all the 103 Amrit stations. Apart from general public, passenger associations, school and college students, scouts and guides, railway employees and rail users will attend the program at each station in the august presence of elected representatives and dignitaries. Competitions and cultural programmes are being held for students on patriotic themes and winners will be rewarded suitably.
In Southern Railway, 13 Amrit Stations will be inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister virtually. The Amrit stations are:
- St. Thomas Mount (Chennai Division)
- Sullurupeta (Chennai Division)
- Samalpatti ( Salem Division)
- Chidambaram (Tiruchchirappalli Division)
- Srirangam (Tiruchchirappalli Division)
- Tiruvannamalai (Tiruchchirappalli Division)
- Polur (Tiruchchirappalli Division)
- Vriddhachalam (Tiruchchirappalli Division)
- Mannargudi (Tiruchchirappalli Division)
- Vadakara (Palakkad Division)
- Mahe (Palakkad Division)
- Chirayinkeezh (Thiruvananthapuram Division)
- Kulitturai (Thiruvananthapuram Division)
Ceremonial functions will be held at all the above 13 stations in Southern Railway. Cultural events on patriotic themes will be organized and elected representatives and dignitaries from the respective area will grace the occasion. The Central function held under the auspices of Hon’ble Prime Minister will be live streamed at all the 13 stations followed by the local function.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme launched in December 2022 by the Ministry of Railways aims to transform over 1,300 stations into modern hubs with multimodal integration and future-ready facilities. The foundation stone for these works at different stations was laid between August 2023 and February 2024.
Symbolising the transformation of Railways, the upgraded railway stations unveiled in the phase-1 of Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities offering a world-class travel experience for passengers.
Brief note of 13 Amrit Stations in Southern Railway
- St. Thomas Mount Railway Station (₹11.05 crores)
Located in Chennai, St. Thomas Mount serves as a vital suburban interchange connecting passengers across southern Chennai. The redevelopment at a cost of ₹11.05 crores has enhanced passenger experience with new booking offices, modular toilets, upgraded platform shelters, and digital facilities. The station’s integration with Metro and MRTS corridors elevates its strategic relevance in urban transit.
- Sullurupeta Railway Station (₹14.50 crores)
Situated near the Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh border, Sullurupeta serves as the gateway to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and the Pulicat Lake region. With an investment of ₹14.50 crores, the station has been upgraded with a new high-roof concourse, foot overbridge, lifts, improved shelters, Integrated UTS counter, digital display systems, and a temple-inspired façade to enhance both utility and aesthetics.
- Samalpatti Railway Station (₹ 8 crores)
Located in Krishnagiri district, Samalpatti is a key railway station serving Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu in the jurisdiction of Southern Railway. Redeveloped at a cost of ₹8 crores, the station now houses a new terminal building, waiting hall, VIP lounge, toilet complex, modern platform shelters, digital facilities, and enhanced accessibility, making it a crucial transport hub for the district.
- Mahe Railway Station (₹18.5 crores)
Mahe, a coastal enclave of Puducherry within Kerala, holds cultural and historic significance. With ₹18.5 crores invested, the station has undergone full transformation including concourse and platform upgrades, addition of lifts, GPS clocks, vertical gardens, LED lighting, BLDC fans, and digital displays, reflecting a sustainable and commuter-friendly design.
- Vadakara Railway Station (₹24.25 crores)
Located in Kozhikode district of Kerala, Vadakara is a key stop on the Malabar coast rail corridor. With ₹24.25 crores spent, the station now features upgraded AC/general waiting rooms, murals, escalators, lifts, platform redevelopment, and sustainable installations such as BLDC fans and LED lights, serving as a regional transport hub.
- Srirangam Railway Station (₹6.77 crores)
Situated in Tiruchchirappalli district, Srirangam is renowned for the famous Ranganathaswamy Temple. With a redevelopment cost of ₹6.77 crores, the station has been enhanced with upgraded waiting halls, dormitories, retiring rooms, digital facilities, improved parking and landscaping, making it befitting of its religious and tourism significance.
- Tiruvannamalai Railway Station (₹8.27 crores)
Tiruvannamalai is an important pilgrimage center in Tamil Nadu. With ₹8.27 crores invested, the station has seen extensive improvements including a modern terminal, waiting halls, new PF shelters, a festival block, and digital enhancements, making it more welcoming for lakhs of devotees visiting the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
- Polur Railway Station (₹6.15 crores)
Strategically located in Tiruvannamalai district, Polur serves local commuters and pilgrims heading towards religious sites in the region. Redeveloped with ₹6.15 crores, the station now features a renewed terminal, waiting hall, booking counters, enhanced PF shelters, toilets, digital boards, and improved accessibility features.
- Chidambaram Railway Station (₹5.96 crores)
Home to the iconic Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram in Cuddalore district is a major pilgrimage and academic center. With ₹5.96 crores in redevelopment, the station boasts a renovated terminal, new archway, improved concourse, retiring rooms, public toilets, digital boards, and upgraded platform infrastructure.
- Vriddhachalam Railway Station (₹9.17 crores)
Located in Cuddalore district, Vriddhachalam connects multiple trunk routes. With ₹9.17 crores invested on upgradation, the station has received terminal and PF surface upgrades, retiring rooms, a new arch, better lighting, Divyangjan amenities, and digital signage, boosting its operational efficiency.
- Mannargudi Railway Station (₹4.69 crores)
Situated in Thiruvarur district, Mannargudi is known for the Rajagopalaswamy Temple. Redeveloped at a cost of ₹4.69 crores, the station now features an AC waiting hall, upgraded terminal, PF shelters, digital systems, and improved accessibility, offering a smoother experience to pilgrims and daily travelers alike.
- Chirayinkeezh Railway Station (₹7 crores)
Located in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, Chirayinkeezh serves nearby coastal and rural communities. Upgraded at a cost of ₹7 crores, the station has been modernized with an aesthetic arch, improved waiting halls, shelters, Public Information System displays, and Divyangjan facilities, providing a better travel environment.
- Kulitturai Railway Station (₹5.35 crores)
Near the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kulitturai station caters to coastal commuters and pilgrims heading to Kanyakumari. With ₹5.35 crores in upgrades, the station now features a refurbished façade, enhanced toilets, coach indication systems, digital signage, and Divyangjan access features.
