Railways to make larger investments during XI Plan

The Railways have deployed their investible surplus of nearly Rs. 70,000 crore earned between 2004-05 to 2008-09 to increase its productivity. Announcing this while presenting the Interim Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, the Union Minister of Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad said that Railways will invest Rs.2,30,000 crore under the 11th Five Year Plan which is almost three times the amount allocated in the 10th Five Year Plan.

The Minister said that the objective of larger investment is to increase the transport capacity of the Railways and to reduce the unit cost of operations. Railways’ investment outlays have been stepped up from Rs.13,394 crore in 2003-04 to Rs. 36,773 crore in 2008-09.

Shri Lalu Prasad also announced that Railways would be completing the work of 4900 kms of gauge conversion, 1800 kms of doubling and laying 1100 kms of new lines, over five years.

Source : Press Information Bureau

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