Indian Railways has embarked on a massive station redevelopment programme in a bid to modernise the country’s rail infrastructure. A total of 1,337 stations have been identified for upgradation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) over the next few years in order to increase their capacity, enhance the passenger experience, and develop these areas as commercial and transit hubs.
Redevelopment works will focus on enhancing access to stations and circulating areas, integrating stations with both sides of the city, improving parking areas, enabling multimodal integration, and providing lifts, ramps and escalators, Divyangjan-friendly amenities, wider foot overbridges and air concourses sufficient to meet the projected passenger traffic. Beyond the core transit functionalities, these modern stations aim to revitalise the commuter experience by improving waiting halls, toilets, sitting arrangements and water booths, along with integrating advanced passenger information systems.
Out of the 1,337 stations targeted for a modern overhaul, 1,165 are currently at various stages of development, and work on 172 stations has already been completed as of February 2026. State-wise, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan together constitute 50 per cent of the total stations to be redeveloped under the scheme.
This massive modernisation initiative is supported by a capital outlay of Rs 121.2 billion for FY 2025-26 under Plan Head-53, “Customer Amenities”, of which an expenditure of Rs 96.6 billion has been incurred till December 2025. Under Union Budget 2026-27, Rs 119.71 billion has been allocated for the scheme.
While project delivery is mainly driven by the engineering, procurement and construction model, accounting for 98 per cent of awards, 15 stations have been specifically identified for the public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has been entrusted to redevelop 104 stations, out of which three major stations – Rani Kamlapati in Madhya Pradesh under the West Central Railway zone, Gandhinagar in Gujarat under the Western Railway zone and Gomtinagar in Uttar Pradesh under the North Eastern Railway zone – have already been commissioned.
In December 2025, North Western Railway completed the redevelopment of Jaisalmer
railway station at an estimated cost of Rs 1.4 billion, representing the completion of 10 stations in Rajasthan. The project seamlessly unifies modern technology with regional heritage, prominently featuring yellow sandstone and traditional Rajasthani designs to reflect the local culture. The station is also equipped with a well-planned concourse, foot overbridges, lifts, escalators and enhanced passenger parking facilities.
As of February 2025, the redevelopment of Ranchi station, entailing an overall cost of Rs 4.47 billion, is moving ahead, with the southern side expected to be completed by March 2026. The station will feature two three-storey buildings on both the north and south sides. In addition, work on the north side of the station will begin after the completion of the south side and will be completed by the end of 2027.
The redevelopment of Ajni station is also gaining pace, as the G+3 station building on the east side is nearing completion, with the reinforced concrete cement framework finished and internal and external finishing works in progress. The installation of lifts, escalators, modern passenger amenities and external facade works is also under way. On the west side, the construction of the G+2 station building has progressed with the completion of piling, while pile cap and plinth beam works are currently in progress following the partial dismantling of the existing metro structure to facilitate redevelopment.
Additionally, stations at Chennai (Egmore), Gwalior, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Ernakulam and Bhubaneswar are at advanced stages of development, with works likely to be completed by 2026. Meanwhile, the modernisation of the Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Mumbai stations are some of the big-ticket projects that will be completed in the next three to five years.
To drive technological innovation and passenger safety, stations are being equipped with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence-enabled CCTVs, free Wi-Fi systems, real-time passenger information systems, digital signage, smart ticketing solutions and mobile applications. As part of sustainability initiatives, solar panels are being installed on roofing systems, along with the development of green facades, rain gardens and ballastless tracks, among others.
Big-ticket projects under execution
The RLDA is currently supervising several high-investment redevelopment projects across India. Among these, the Ahmedabad railway station in Gujarat is a significant project, being developed at a cost of approximately Rs 30 billion, with an architectural theme inspired by the Modhera Sun Temple. The station is designed to be a massive multimodal transport hub, featuring an elevated road network to link the railway with the national high-speed rail (bullet train), metro and bus rapid transport systems. With a projected daily footfall of 310,000 passengers, the station will include a 54,160 square metre (sq. m) concourse and a 7,490 sq. m waiting area.
Meanwhile, the New Delhi railway station project is being developed at an estimated investment of Rs 29.17 billion. The plan involves the construction of two major station buildings (both G+1) at the Paharganj and Ajmeri Gate sides, featuring a massive built-up area of 19,354 sq. m. To accommodate a projected daily footfall of 700,000 passengers, the design includes a 73,749 sq. m concourse, an extensive 84,574 sq. m roof coverage and a 47,941 sq. m waiting area. The facility will be equipped with 82 lifts, 52 escalators and 41 ticket counters to ensure seamless transit.
Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus (CSMT) station redevelopment, valued at about Rs 24.5 billion, focuses on transforming the historic terminus into a modern multimodal transport hub. Given its staggering projected daily footfall of about 1.5 million passengers, the project emphasises high-capacity movement through 102 lifts, 78 escalators and 6 foot-overbridges. The development includes a 13,810 sq. m double-tier concourse. Additionally, the project aims to provide nearly 60,000 sq. m of parking space and 35 ticket counters to manage the intense commuter traffic characteristic of Mumbai’s rail network.
Key issues and challenges
The redevelopment of stations is complex in nature. Since these are brownfield projects, engineers have to navigate the constraints of existing infrastructure while the station remains fully operational. The primary challenge lies in the severe lack of construction space, which forces the execution of work in cramped environments with thousands of moving passengers and active train schedules.
The presence of 25,000-Volt overhead electric lines adds another layer of extreme risk, requiring specialised machinery and rigid safety protocols to prevent electrical accidents. In addition, the shifting and management of utilities, such as water and sewage lines, optical fibre cables, gas pipe lines, power and signal cables, and underground metro tunnels, also require proper planning.
Beyond the physical constraints, the pre-construction phase involves a complex web of statutory clearances. Projects are often delayed by the need for fire, heritage and airport clearances, along with environmental permits for tree cutting or relocation. Navigating these regulatory requirements with various agencies leads to an escalation of the total project cost.
Going forward
Going forward, India’s railway station redevelopment programme must move from isolated upgrades to an integrated, transit-oriented urban transformation strategy. The next phase should prioritise financially viable PPP models, standardised and climate-responsive design templates, and seamless multimodal integration.
