Rajasthan Railway Transformation Gains Pace as Alwar Station Redevelopment Advances Under Amrit Bharat Scheme

Rajasthan is witnessing rapid railway infrastructure transformation with redevelopment work progressing across dozens of stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Equipped with world-class passenger facilities and modern infrastructure, 15 redeveloped railway stations in the state, including Jaisalmer Railway Station, Bundi Railway Station, Barmer Railway Station, Mandalgarh Railway Station and Somesar Railway Station, are now serving passengers with upgraded amenities and improved connectivity.

The latest major redevelopment project is underway at Alwar Railway Station, where modernization work worth ₹112 crore is progressing rapidly. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma virtually laid the foundation stone and dedicated various railway projects worth over ₹400 crore to the nation.

Speaking during the event, Ashwini Vaishnaw said the redevelopment of Alwar station is being carried out in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming railway stations into modern urban connectors while preserving local cultural identity.

Strategically located on the busy Delhi–Jaipur rail corridor, Alwar station caters to thousands of passengers daily. With passenger traffic continuously increasing, Indian Railways has undertaken major redevelopment work to improve traffic circulation, parking facilities, passenger movement and overall travel experience.

The railway minister said the new station complex is being developed over nearly 16,000 square metres and will blend Rajasthan’s architectural heritage with modern infrastructure. The project includes dual-side entry arrangements to improve urban connectivity from both sides of the station.

Passengers will benefit from upgraded entry and exit systems at both the main and secondary entrances. The redevelopment project also includes construction of an additional high-level platform, two six-metre-wide foot overbridges and installation of nine modern lifts for improved accessibility and passenger convenience.

Dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones for private vehicles, taxis and auto-rickshaws are also being created to streamline movement around the station premises. A new parking facility spread across approximately 4,500 square metres is expected to ease congestion and improve accessibility.

Railway officials said a comprehensive traffic circulation plan has also been prepared for the outer station area to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

Apart from passenger amenities, nearly 1,900 square metres of commercial space is also being developed as part of the project. Officials believe the redevelopment will strengthen Alwar’s role as an emerging centre for tourism, business and employment in the region.

Ashwini Vaishnaw said three railway stations in the Alwar region — Govind Garh Railway Station, Rajgarh Railway Station and Khairthal Railway Station — have already been redeveloped and completed under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Across Rajasthan, redevelopment work is currently underway at 85 railway stations, out of which 15 have already been completed. These include stations at Barmer, Bundi, Dausa, Deeg, Deshnok, Fatehpur Shekhawati, Gangapur City, Gogamedi, Govind Garh, Rajgarh, Khairthal, Jaisalmer, Mandalgarh, Mandawar Mahwa Road and Somesar.

At the national level, Indian Railways has identified 1,340 stations for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Highlighting rail connectivity improvements in Rajasthan, Vaishnaw said the state currently operates five Vande Bharat Express services and one Amrit Bharat Express train. Over the last year, several new train services have also been introduced, including Delhi–Jodhpur and Delhi–Bikaner Vande Bharat Express services, the Udaipur City–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express, Swarna Nagri Express between Jaisalmer and Delhi, Hyderabad–Jodhpur Bhagat Ki Kothi Express and Pune–Jodhpur Express.

He added that a total of 46 new trains have been introduced for Rajasthan in recent years, significantly improving passenger connectivity across the state.

The railway minister further said Rajasthan’s railway budget allocation has increased sharply to ₹10,228 crore under the present government compared to around ₹682 crore during previous administrations.

According to Vaishnaw, nearly 3,900 kilometres of railway tracks have been laid in Rajasthan since 2014. He also highlighted the commissioning of 10 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals at locations including Marwar Mundwa, Khemli, Bhupal Sagar, Sonu, Hanwant, Sundlak, Mandalgarh, New Saradhana, Hirnoda and Kairla.

Six additional cargo terminals are under construction at Jogi Magra, Lanela, Dhankya, Kota Junction, Nawalgarh and Biradhwal, while approvals have also been granted for eight more terminals.

The railway minister said Indian Railways remains committed to supporting Rajasthan’s industries by ensuring seamless freight connectivity to ports for sectors such as cement, textiles, handicrafts, semiconductors and engineering products.

Several major railway infrastructure projects are also progressing across the state. These include doubling works on the Agra–Bandikui, Ajmer–Chittorgarh, Bikaner–Lalgarh, Churu–Sadulpur and Luni–Bhildi sections, gauge conversion projects such as Dholpur–Sirmathura–Gangapur City and Devgarh Madariya–Nathdwara, and third-line projects between Mathura–Jhansi and Mathura–Nagda.

New railway line projects including Nimach–Badi Sadri, Pushkar–Merta City, Sheopur Kalan–Kota and Taranga Hill–Abu Road are also progressing, along with doubling work on the Rewari–Khatuwas, Ringus–Sikar and Umra–Debari sections.

Bhupender Yadav said the redevelopment of Alwar Railway Station reflects Rajasthan’s architectural grandeur and will emerge as one of the finest stations in the state. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma added that Rajasthan’s proximity to Delhi is helping strengthen industrial and transport infrastructure, especially in industrial centres such as Bhiwadi, Neemrana and Khushkhera.

He said two major connectivity corridors, including a railway line towards Alwar and an RRTS corridor towards Behror, are also being planned to improve regional integration and transport infrastructure in the state.