Amritsar Junction Set for ₹502-Crore World-Class Makeover

Indian Railways has approved a major redevelopment plan for Amritsar Junction railway station with an investment of ₹402 crore, along with an additional ₹100 crore for the construction of five new platforms, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu announced recently.

The announcement was made at Amritsar Junction after the flagging off of the 14664/14663 Amrit Bharat Express connecting Amritsar and New Jalpaiguri. Bittu said the redevelopment project is aimed at transforming the station into a world-class transportation hub while preserving the spiritual and cultural essence of the holy city. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for prioritising railway infrastructure development in Punjab and across India.

As part of the redevelopment, extensive yard remodelling and expansion works will be undertaken to meet future passenger and operational demands. The station will gain five additional platforms — two on the northern side and three on the southern side — along with five new passenger loop lines to improve operational efficiency and reduce congestion. A dedicated Vande Bharat maintenance shed will also be established in Amritsar to support modern rail services.

The upgraded station infrastructure will feature modern architectural designs, including a G+10 station building with seven commercial floors on the north side and a G+3 building on the south side. The project will also introduce enhanced passenger amenities such as lifts, escalators, subways connecting both sides of the station, upgraded parking facilities, improved traffic circulation systems and covered drop-off zones, along with new commercial spaces.

Bittu added that the launch of the Amrit Bharat Express between Amritsar and New Jalpaiguri will improve rail connectivity between northern and eastern India. The weekly train service will connect key cities including Ludhiana, Ambala, Gorakhpur, Raxaul, Sitamarhi, Forbesganj and Siliguri, benefiting migrant workers, students, pilgrims, tourists and businesses with affordable long-distance travel options.

Highlighting the broader railway expansion in Punjab, the minister stated that the state’s railway budget allocation for 2026–27 has increased to ₹5,673 crore — nearly 25 times higher than the annual average allocation during 2009–14. He added that railway projects worth more than ₹26,000 crore are currently underway in Punjab, while 30 stations across the state are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.