Jaipur, July 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the newly redeveloped Jaisalmer Railway Station on Friday under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, officials said on Thursday. Redeveloped at a cost of nearly Rs 140 crore, the station combines Jaisalmer’s iconic heritage architecture with world-class passenger amenities.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Jaisalmer MLA Chhotu Singh Bhati will attend the inauguration ceremony at the station. The station’s new three-storey building has been constructed using Jaisalmer’s famous golden-yellow sandstone, giving it the appearance of a traditional palace while preserving the city’s rich architectural identity.
According to Hitesh Yadav, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Jodhpur), the redevelopment has been designed to reflect Jaisalmer’s unique culture and heritage while providing modern infrastructure for passengers. The upgraded station now offers several state-of-the-art facilities, including 10 lifts and 10 escalators for seamless passenger movement, two new six-metre-wide foot overbridges connecting the platforms, a modern passenger waiting lounge, more than 10,000 square metres of new platform roofing, providing protection from heat and rain, lift access within the station building, dedicated facilities for senior citizens and differently-abled passengers, spacious entry and exit gates designed to improve passenger flow and retiring rooms, parking and commercial spaces.
The station also features a large parking area for vehicles, commercial shops and retail spaces, plans to lease additional commercial areas to private businesses and a proposed rail coach restaurant to enhance the visitor experience. Railway officials estimate that, apart from ticket revenue, the station could generate around Rs 50 lakh annually through commercial activities and station facilities.
Tourism entrepreneur Mayank Bhatia of the Priya Group said the redevelopment would significantly enhance the travel experience for the lakhs of domestic and international tourists who visit Jaisalmer every year. Improved passenger facilities, heritage aesthetics and new commercial amenities are expected to strengthen both the tourism industry and local businesses.
The Jaisalmer station is among 75 redeveloped Amrit Bharat Stations that Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate simultaneously across the country on Friday. Five railway stations from Rajasthan are part of this nationwide rollout. Railway officials believe the modernised station will not only improve passenger convenience but also reinforce Jaisalmer’s position as one of India’s premier tourist destinations while preserving its distinctive architectural heritage. –IANS arc/khz
