JAISALMER:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country to the nation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme through a video conference from Jalandhar Cantonment, Punjab.Among the stations inaugurated under the North Western Railway, Rajasthan were Jaisalmer, Barmer, Khairthal, Somesar, Dausa, Deeg, Gangapur City and Gotan in Rajasthan.One of the highlights of the national event was that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented Prime Minister Modi with a memento featuring a photograph of the newly redeveloped Jaisalmer Railway Station, built in the city’s iconic golden-yellow sandstone. The gesture was seen as a matter of pride for Jaisalmer and Rajasthan, with the station emerging as a model for heritage-based railway redevelopment.At the inauguration ceremony held at Jaisalmer Railway Station, Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended as the chief guest. The event was also attended by District Collector Anupama Jorwal, Jaisalmer MLA Chhotu Singh Bhati, Pokaran MLA Mahant Pratap Puri, Phalodi MLA Pabbaram Bishnoi, Jodhpur DRM Anurag Tripathi, railway officials, public representatives and a large number of citizens.According to Amit Sudarshan, Chief Public Relations Officer of North Western Railway, the redeveloped stations at Barmer, Dausa, Deeg, Gangapur City, Gotan, Jaisalmer, Khairthal and Somesar were inaugurated simultaneously through video conferencing, with local ceremonies held at each station.At Barmer Railway Station, the event was attended by Barmer MP Ummeda Ram Beniwal, former Union Minister Kailash Choudhary, and several other dignitaries.The live telecast of the inauguration from Jalandhar Cantonment was viewed by public representatives, officials and local residents. The redevelopment of Jaisalmer Railway Station is being regarded as a major milestone in the city’s infrastructure development and a significant step toward building a modern and self-reliant railway network.Speaking to the media regarding the presentation of the Jaisalmer station photograph to the Prime Minister, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the station had been redesigned by incorporating Jaisalmer’s traditional architecture and cultural heritage. Constructed with the city’s famous golden sandstone, the station now reflects the region’s unique identity and offers an impressive architectural appearance.He said the redeveloped station would not only provide world-class passenger amenities but also boost tourism, handicrafts, local trade and employment. The modern station is expected to serve as an attractive gateway for domestic and international tourists visiting the Golden City, further strengthening Jaisalmer’s position as a globally recognized desert tourism destination.Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat said Indian Railways is undergoing an unprecedented transformation under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. Railway stations are no longer merely transport hubs but are becoming symbols of urban identity and development. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, stations are being developed by integrating local culture, heritage and modern infrastructure to provide airport-like passenger facilities.He remarked that people living in the border district of Jaisalmer could hardly have imagined that their railway station would one day become a world-class facility. He credited Prime Minister Modi’s development vision for making this transformation possible and said the upgraded station would significantly enhance connectivity and strengthen tourism, local business, employment and the regional economy.During his speech, Shekhawat also criticized the previous UPA government, alleging that before 2014 the country had suffered from economic challenges and “policy paralysis,” where development projects were delayed or stalled. He said that over the past twelve years India has witnessed remarkable progress in infrastructure and welfare initiatives, earning global recognition for its rapid development.Separately, the Golden City Tourism Confederation Development Society, Jaisalmer, submitted a detailed memorandum to Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking expansion of railway services from Jaisalmer.The memorandum highlighted Jaisalmer’s importance as both a globally renowned tourist destination and a strategically significant border district. It stated that following the station’s redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the expansion of rail connectivity had become essential to support tourism, trade and local residents.The organization requested the extension of several existing trains, including Haridwar–Bikaner, Jodhpur–Indore and Bikaner–Howrah services up to Jaisalmer. It also proposed introducing new direct trains connecting Jaisalmer with Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna and Kanpur, along with a Katra–Jaisalmer service, a new Howrah–Jaisalmer train, and revisions to the timings of existing services to better suit passenger demand.
