Biggest even annual plan for Railways, to invest Rs 37500 crores

The Minister of Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad today announced biggest ever annual plan for the Railways. He said, the Ministry of Railways proposes to invest Rs. 37,500 crore, which is 21% more than the previous year. The plan size includes a total budgetary support of Rs. 7874 crore including Rs. 774 crore to be provided from the Central Road Fund. The annual plan will have Internal and External Budgetary Resources (IEBR) funding of 79%.

Under this plan, priority has been given to enhancement of rail capacity, modernization of the railway, throughput enhancement on High Density Network routes, traffic facility works and expansion and development of the network. Construction of flyovers, bypasses, Intermediate Block System (IBS), upgradation of goods shed etc., traffic facilities works will be completed on priority.

The outlay for doubling works has been increased to Rs. 2,500 crore, traffic facility works to Rs. 984 crore and an outlay of Rs. 1535 crore has been proposed for projects under implementation by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). Provision of Rs. 1730 crore for new lines, Rs. 2489 crore for gauge conversion, Rs. 626 crore for electrification and Rs. 650 crore for Metropolitan Transport Projects has been made.

On safety related plan heads, provision has been made for Rs. 3600 crore for track renewals, Rs. 1520 crore for signal and telecommunication works, Rs. 700 crore for Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges and Rs. 600 crore for manning of unmanned level crossings. The Railway Minister also sought additional funds to the tune of Rs. 1712 crore from Ministry of Finance for national projects of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla, Jiribam-Imphal Road, Dimapur-Kohima, Azra-Byrnihat and Kumarghat-Agartala new line, Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge and Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam, Rangia-Murkongselek gauge conversion.

During the year 2300 km broad gauge lines are likely to be completed. The target for construction of broad gauge lines in 2008-09 is 3500 km. The construction of new line between Kakapore and Badgam in the Kashmir valley has already been completed and the remaining portion in the valley will be completed in 2008-09. Expressing gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for deciding the funding of National Projects in the North Eastern region, through 25% funds from Railways Gross Budgetary Support and balance 75% as an additionality, he proposed to create a non-lapsable Northeast Rail Development Fund to expedite track construction process in this region.

Source : Press Information Bureau

Keywords