Tewari raises railway station work, govt says no fixed timeline can be given for completion

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Chandigarh falls under Northern Railway, which has been allocated Rs 2,216 crore under Plan Head-53 for customer amenities for the financial year 2025–26, mentioned the ministry in its response to Tewari’s question.The long-promised redevelopment of the Chandigarh Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station (ABS) Scheme remains mired in delays and uncertainty, with the Ministry of Railways admitting in Parliament that no fixed timeline can be provided for its completion. This comes in a response, given to a question raised by MP Manish Tewari in the Lok Sabha on August 6.Speaking on the matter, Chandigarh MP Tewari expressed his disappointment, stating, “It is unfortunate that rather than recognising the utter chaos, anarchy and mayhem that prevails at the railway station, the ministry’s response avoids accountability. The answer gives no timeline for when the renovation will finally be over and fails to offer any solution to the persistent parking mess. In all, the reply betrays the total inefficiency of the Railway Ministry.”Meanwhile, in its written reply, the ministry confirmed that Chandigarh Railway Station is being redeveloped under the ABS scheme with a sanctioned cost of Rs 436.29 crore. While structural works on the Panchkula and Chandigarh sides have been completed — including platform upgradation, foot overbridges, parking areas, and new building finishes — the ministry admitted that no definite completion date can be given due to numerous on-ground challenges.These include statutory clearances (fire, heritage, airport), shifting of utilities (water, sewage, power, optical fibre), ongoing train operations, and speed restrictions due to nearby high-voltage lines. All these factors, the ministry claimed, are affecting progress, and thus no timeline can be committed at this stage.The station’s inclusion in the national ABS scheme is part of a broader plan to modernise 1,337 stations across the country, out of which work at 105 has already been completed. However, work at Chandigarh railway station is still not complete.The ministry stated that routine inspections are being conducted and cleanliness is being maintained, but passengers and local residents continue to face overcrowding and inadequate amenities.Chandigarh falls under Northern Railway, which has been allocated Rs 2,216 crore under Plan Head-53 for customer amenities for the financial year 2025–26, mentioned the ministry in its response to Tewari’s question. Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:chandigarh