PM Modi dedicates redeveloped Ashoknagar railway station under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Gwalior, July 17
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually dedicated the redeveloped Ashoknagar railway station in Madhya Pradesh, built for Rs 37 crore, as part of the inauguration of 75 railway stations across the country under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
Union Communications Minister and local MP Jyotiraditya Scindia attended the inauguration programme at Ashoknagar and said the station was part of the Centre's efforts to modernise railway infrastructure and improve passenger facilities.
"The redeveloped Ashoknagar railway station reflects the transformation taking place in Indian Railways under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Scindia said.
According to officials, around 5,000 to 6,000 passengers use the station every day, while 15 to 17 trains pass through it daily. The upgraded station is expected to benefit nearly 1.5 lakh passengers every month with improved amenities and better accessibility.
Scindia said the current phase of redevelopment covered one side of the station, while work on the other side would be taken up in the next phase. After completion, the station will have two entry and two exit gates to ease passenger movement.
The Union Minister said efforts were also being made to improve rail connectivity in the region. He said work was progressing on the Bina‑Kota rail section, and steps were being taken to provide additional stoppages for more trains at Ashoknagar and to construct railway underbridges.
Referring to the recently introduced Bina‑Guna‑Ruthiyai MEMU train, Scindia said the service had improved connectivity for local passengers. "The train timings will also be revised, if required, based on public demand," he said.
He said railway projects play an important role in improving connectivity and supporting economic development, adding that the redeveloped station would provide better facilities for passengers and contribute to the region's growth.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some attention to tier-3 towns! Ashoknagar was long neglected. I'm particularly happy about the additional train stoppages being considered - that's what local people need most. The Bina-Guna-Ruthiyai MEMU train is a good start, but we need more trains connecting to bigger cities like Gwalior and Bhopal.
Interesting to see Rs 37 crore going into a station that serves 5,000-6,000 daily passengers. That's about Rs 6,000 per daily passenger for infrastructure. For context, in the US we spend similar amounts on airports serving 50,000+ passengers daily. Efficiency of scale is definitely different here.
Scindia ji is really working for his constituency. Good to see local MP attending the inauguration. But I wish they'd also focus on the roads connecting to the station - what's the point of a nice station if you can't reach it easily? 🤔 Also, 15-17 trains daily is quite less for a town that serves 1.5 lakh passengers monthly.
As someone who's traveled extensively on Indian Railways, I appreciate the small upgrades in smaller stations. Two entry and two exit gates sounds like a simple but effective improvement. Hope they also install good lighting and CCTV cameras for safety, especially for women passengers traveling alone.
Good initiative under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. I've seen similar redevelopments at Jhansi and Gwalior - the quality is improving. But I hope the maintenance is taken seriously. Many newly renovated stations become shabby within months due to poor upkeep. Railways should involve local
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