Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the redeveloped Jalandhar Cantt Railway Station on July 17, as part of a larger initiative to inaugurate 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar confirmed this during a visit to the station on Saturday, where he reviewed the final phase of works.
Railway Board Chairman Inspects Final Preparations
Accompanied by senior railway officials, Kumar inspected various sections of the station and reviewed the readiness of passenger facilities. He directed officials to complete the remaining works at the earliest so that the station is fully ready ahead of its inauguration. The 110-year-old British-era station has been redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 125 crore, with design elements incorporating Punjab's historical and cultural heritage.
Kumar stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme on July 17. The Jalandhar Cantt Railway Station is among them." He added that the redevelopment seeks to combine modern passenger amenities with the station's historic character.
Modern Amenities and Facilities Added
The redevelopment has added several passenger-oriented facilities, including modern ticket counters, food plazas, retail kiosks, and luggage scanning systems to improve convenience and security. Separate dormitories for male and female passengers have also been developed to cater to long-distance travellers requiring rest facilities.
The upgraded station features a spacious double-height air concourse, two new foot overbridges, heavy steel platform roofing, slip-resistant flooring, energy-efficient LED lighting, and entry points from both sides of the city. Other additions include a 40-metre-wide roof covering around 200 metres of platform area, a newly developed second entry building, and a parking area spread over nearly 4,855 square metres.
Current Operations and Train Services
At present, the Jalandhar Cantt Railway Station handles around 7,500 passengers daily. A total of 66 trains halt at the station, including two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains, the Humsafar Express, the Garib Rath Express, besides several mail, express, and passenger trains, making it one of the prominent railway stations in the region.
Project Delays and Earlier Review
Earlier, on June 8, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu had also visited the station to review the progress of the redevelopment works. The project, which commenced in 2022, was initially expected to be completed within two and a half years but has been delayed by nearly 18 months before being readied for inauguration.
