The Jungle Book inspired Seoni railway station. (image-X/RailMinIndia)
Madhya Pradesh: In a first-of-its-kind transformation, Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni railway station has been redeveloped with a Jungle Book theme, making it the only station globally to draw inspiration from Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale. Celebrating characters like Mowgli and Baloo, the station is among 103 stations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on Thursday under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The revamped Seoni station features vibrant installations and statues of Jungle Book characters across its premises. “One of the best curated is Seoni station under the Nagpur division in MP,” said Dileep Kumar, Executive Director (Information & Publicity), Ministry of Railways, as quoted by The New Indian Express. “This depiction will attract children and literature lovers, reflecting the rich culture of the ‘Heart of India’.”
Also Read | Beaten, Molested, Ignored: NEET Aspirant’s Cry For Justice Falls On Deaf Ears In Kota
According to Kumar, the fictional character Mowgli is believed to have roots in Seoni, where he was said to have been raised by wolves.
1/4
मध्य प्रदेश का सिवनी रेलवे स्टेशन अब अमृत भारत स्टेशन योजना के तहत नए, भव्य और आधुनिक स्वरूप में यात्रियों की सेवा के लिए तैयार है।
बता दें, इस स्टेशन का विकास ‘जंगल बुक’ की थीम पर किया गया है।#AmritStation pic.twitter.com/GBmthtoZXS— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 22, 2025
As part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, nearly half of the 103 redeveloped stations have been reimagined with themes inspired by local heritage, religious significance, and historical importance. For instance, Orchha station in MP now mirrors ‘Ram Katha Park’, while Maharashtra’s stations display patriotic murals celebrating Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Rajasthan’s Deshnok station draws on the design of the Karni Mata temple.
Other themed stations include Warangal in Telangana portrays the legacy of the Kakatiya dynasty through intricate wall artwork; Govardhan station in Uttar Pradesh reflects Braj culture; and Gujarat’s Karamsad station features murals of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s life. Another notable example is the Dakor station, also in Gujarat, with sculptures depicting the legend of Lord Dwarkadhish riding a bullock cart.
In West Bengal, stations like Panagarh, Kalyani Ghosapara, and Joychandi Pahar have been reimagined with local craftsmanship and modern amenities.
Also Read | Human Rights Violated: NHRC Probes Professor Mahmudabad’s Arrest
The redevelopment of these 103 stations—spread across 86 districts in 18 states and Union Territories—has cost Rs 1,100 crore. It is part of a larger initiative under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to revamp 1,300 stations nationwide. Alongside the station makeovers, PM Modi will also launch additional infrastructure projects worth over Rs 26,000 crore.
