Indian Railways to Set Up 100 PM Janaushadhi Kendras Across India; 50 Stations Already Chosen - Check List

Have you ever been in a situation where you needed medicine urgently while on a train or at a railway station? You're not alone. Many of us have faced such situations while traveling. But here's some good news- Indian Railways is stepping in to make things easier for passengers. They're planning to set up over 100 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) at railway stations, according to www.businesstoday.in.

These PMBJKs will be like mini pharmacies, conveniently located in circulating areas and concourses of stations. They'll be run by licensees, making it easier for passengers to access much-needed medicines during their travels. Indian Railways came up with this plan back in August 2023, aiming to improve the well-being of passengers visiting railway stations.

Initially, they selected 50 stations (according to PIB) for a pilot project, and these started operating in March this year. Now, they're planning to add 61 more PMBJKs across the country, each costing around Rs 12.53 lakh.

Indian Railways is always striving to upgrade its facilities for the millions of people who visit its stations daily. By setting up PMBJKs, they hope to achieve a few key objectives:

1. Making quality medicines affordable: The government's mission is to ensure that everyone can access quality medicines at reasonable prices. PMBJKs will play a big role in achieving this goal.

2. Easy access for passengers: With PMBJKs right there in the stations, passengers won't have to go far to find the medicines they need. It's all about making life easier for travelers.

3. Improving wellness: By providing medicines at affordable prices, PMBJKs will contribute to the health and well-being of people from all walks of life.

4. Creating job opportunities: Setting up PMBJKs will also create job opportunities and give entrepreneurs a chance to start their own businesses.

The selected stations for the pilot project include some major hubs like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, as well as stations in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, and more. These stations were chosen strategically to ensure that as many passengers as possible can benefit from this initiative.

Here's a list of the 50 stations where PMBJKs will be set up as part of the pilot project:

List of 50 Stations with PMBJKs

To run a PMBJK, successful bidders will have to obtain the necessary permissions and licenses. They'll also need to comply with all statutory requirements for storing drugs safely. Once everything is in place, they can start providing much-needed medicines to passengers.

The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras scheme aims to make quality medicines accessible to all, especially those traveling by train. By setting up PMBJKs at railway stations, Indian Railways is not just making travel more convenient; they're also promoting better health and well-being for everyone. It's a win-win for passengers and the railways alike.