The Indian Railways is taking steps to improve passenger amenities at railway stations by establishing over 100 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) in circulating areas and concourses of stations. These PMBJKs will be operated by licensees and will provide passengers with access to quality medicines and consumables at affordable prices.
The Indian Railways conceptualised a policy framework to establish PMBJKs in August 2023. Initially, a list of 50 stations was identified for the pilot project, and these commenced operations in March this year. The Railways is now looking to allocate an additional 61 PMBJKs at locations across the country.
The PMBJKs will be located at convenient locations so that both incoming and outgoing passengers can benefit. Stalls are provided by e-auctioning with the respective railway divisions, and successful businesses have to procure the necessary permissions and licences to run a drug store and comply with all statutory requirements for the storage of drugs.
Successful bidders of PMBJK outlets will have to enter into an agreement with the nodal agency for PMBJK, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), and its authorised distributors for the Janaushadhi Scheme before commencing operations.