Jaisalmer: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the redeveloped Jaisalmer railway station Friday via video conferencing as part of the nationwide launch of 75 redeveloped railway stations. Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jaisalmer MLA Chhotu Singh Bhati, Pokaran MLA Pratap Puri and other dignitaries will attend the inauguration ceremony at the station.Senior divisional commercial manager, Jodhpur division, Hitesh Yadav, said, “The PM will inaugurate five redeveloped railway stations in Rajasthan — Jaisalmer, Barmer, Gotan, Somesar and one other station — while virtually launching 75 stations that have been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme across the country from Jalandhar, Punjab.”Built at a cost of nearly Rs 140 crore, the new G+2 station building spans about 8,327 square metres and has been designed to reflect Jaisalmer’s architectural heritage.The redevelopment includes major upgrades to passenger amenities. The station now has 10 lifts and 10 escalators, two six-metre-wide foot overbridges connecting the platforms, a modern waiting lounge and more than 10,000 square metres of covered platform area to protect passengers from extreme weather.Railway officials said the station has been designed keeping Jaisalmer’s tourism appeal in mind. Spacious entry and exit gates, along with dedicated facilities for senior citizens and differently abled passengers, have also been added.Yadav said work on a new sick line, pit line and wheel lathe facility for train washing and maintenance is underway and is expected to be completed within three months. “Once operational, the facilities are expected to improve maintenance capacity and support additional train services, strengthening rail connectivity to the tourist destination,” he said.
