PM Modi e-inaugurates 4 redeveloped Gujarat railway stations under Amrit Bharat Scheme
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 17 July virtually inaugurated four redeveloped railway stations — Pratapnagar, Godhra, Porbandar, and Bhaktinagar — in Gujarat, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The four stations, redeveloped at a combined cost of ₹109 crore, bring the total number of modernised Amrit Bharat stations in the state to 22.
Part of a National Push
The Gujarat inaugurations were part of a larger virtual programme in which Prime Minister Modi dedicated 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country to the nation in a single event. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is the Centre's flagship initiative to overhaul passenger infrastructure at hundreds of smaller and mid-size stations across India.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the state-level ceremony at Pratapnagar Railway Station in Vadodara, where he also visited a special exhibition documenting the transformation of the old station into a modern passenger facility with upgraded amenities and infrastructure.
Gujarat's Expanding Station Network
According to the state government, Prime Minister Modi had previously inaugurated 18 redeveloped railway stations in Gujarat in May last year under the same scheme. Friday's addition of four more takes the cumulative tally to 22. Notably, redevelopment work is currently underway at 87 additional stations across Gujarat, signalling that the state's modernisation drive is far from complete.
Who Attended the Ceremony
The programme at Pratapnagar was attended by Minister of State Manisha Vakil, Gujarat Legislative Assembly Chief Whip Balkrishna Shukla, Member of Parliament Hemang Joshi, and Vadodara Mayor Geeta Makwana, along with local elected representatives and dignitaries. Senior officials including Vadodara Municipal Commissioner Arun Mahesh Babu, Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar, the Divisional Railway Manager of the Vadodara Division, and a large number of citizens were also present.
What the Redevelopment Entails
The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme focuses on improving passenger-facing facilities — including waiting areas, sanitation, accessibility ramps, improved lighting, and better concourse design — while retaining operational continuity. The scheme is part of Indian Railways' broader capital expenditure push, which has seen record annual budgetary allocations in recent years.
What's Next
With 87 more stations in Gujarat currently under redevelopment, the state is on course to significantly expand its modernised station count in the coming months. Nationwide, the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme covers hundreds of stations, and Friday's mass virtual inauguration underscores the Centre's intent to accelerate visible infrastructure delivery ahead of the political calendar.