While presenting the railway budget in Lok Sabha on Friday, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that 375 ‘Adarsh stations’ will be developed by the Indian Railways during 2009-10.

This modernization will develop general facilities such as adequate toilets, drinking water, waiting rooms, catering services at the adarsh stations.

Around 309 stations have already been discovered for this development by the Indian Railways.

Moreover, specially designed coaches, lifts, escalators, earmarked parking lots and standard ramps will be developed, keeping in mind the old and handicapped people.

Mrs. Banerjee also specifies to develop Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Pune and Nagpur stations in Maharashtra as world-beating stations.

The proposal for a new line between Pune-Nashik, which would form the Golden Triangle involving Mumbai-Pune-Nashik, has also been cleared by Banerjee.

Another proposal for a line between Bidar and CM Ashok Chavan’s home district Nanded has also been cleared, while the Nagbhir-Nagpur section has been proposed for gauge conversion.

3 Multi-Functional Complexes having facilities like food courts, medical stores, shopping plazas, budget hotels, book stalls, parking centres and communication will be developed at Nashik, Nanded and Manmad.