Behind the station rebuilding seen across Kerala: 35 of the 1,337 Amrit Bharat stations are in the State

Background

Rebuilt station buildings are showing up across Kerala, and the scheme behind them is the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Replying in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that of the 1,337 stations identified for development across the country under the scheme, 35 are in Kerala. Eleven of these are finished: Chalakudi, Changanassery, Chirayinkeezh, Ferok, Angamali for Kaladi, Kuttippuram, Nilambur Road, Shoranur Junction, Tripunithura, Vadakara and Wadakancheri. Work continues at Angadippuram, Guruvayur, Parappanangadi, Payyanur and Tirur. Kerala's railway budget for 2026-27 is Rs 3,795 crore, against Rs 3,042 crore in 2025-26 and an annual average of Rs 372 crore in the years 2009 to 2014. Six sanctioned projects, two new lines and four doubling works covering 266 km, were in hand at a cost of Rs 9,415 crore as of 1 April 2025. Of the 476 hectares of land needed, 65 hectares or 14 per cent has been acquired, and the Railways has deposited Rs 1,975 crore with the State Government for land acquisition.