Stations chosen under Amrit Bharat Scheme sport new look as Palakkad Division: DRM

Southern Railway's Palakkad Division under ABSS has transformed 16 stations with modern facilities, achieving revenue growth and passenger safety.

Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway’s Palakkad Division Arun Kumar Chaturvedi on Sunday said, the division has so far utilised about ₹175 crore out of projected ₹300 crore under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), to develop 16 Railway Stations, including Mangaluru Junction.

Speaking after unfurling the national flag at the Republic Day celebrations at Palakkad, Mr. Chaturvedi said ABSS was the cornerstone of progress this year to transform stations with modern facilities. The chosen stations now boast addition of new well lit parking areas, expansion of circulating area, addition of over 200 platform shelters, foot overbridges, lifts, escalators, improvement to platform surfaces, contemporary AC and non-AC waiting halls, airport-style illumination and advanced passenger information systems.

Freight loading during April-December reached 4.64 million tonnes, a 12% increase over the previous year. The originating goods revenue stood at ₹439.81 crore, 24.7% above the target of ₹352.7 crore and a growth of 49.74%. Passenger revenue stood at ₹761.66 crore, a 7% growth. The number of passengers carried, 61.97 million, surpassed the target of 59.12 million by 4.82%. The total revenue generated during April-December is ₹1,290 crore, surpassing the proportionate target of ₹1,262 crore by 2.26% and a growth of 17%.

The punctuality performance during April-December stood at 93.63% amid massive 19% more traffic blocks this year for safety, engineering, S&T and TRD works, as compared to last year. Works to raise speed from 110 kmph to 130 kmph on Shoranur-Mangaluru Central section are progressing well, Mr. Chaturvedi said.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has not only safeguarded passengers but also contributed significantly to social causes and crime prevention. One of the key initiatives, Meri Saheli, provided a personal touch of security to 48,076 women travelling alone by women RPF personnel. Through Operation Amanat the RPF returned 1,254 left-behind items worth over ₹3.15 crore. Operation Nanhe Fariste reunited 202 children with their families and Operation Dignity helped bring 44 missing women safely home. Narcotic drugs worth ₹9.64 crore are seized while 15,574 offenders are prosecuted under the Railways Act and the Railway Property (UP) Act.