<h1>Railway Minister Unveils Five-Year Plan to Transform Indian Railways with Rs. 8.56 Lakh Crore Investment for 2015-16.</h1> The Railway Minister outlined a five-point strategy to transform Indian Railways during the 2015-16 budget presentation. The strategy includes adopting a medium-term perspective with a Five Year Action Plan and proposed investments of Rs. 8.56 lakh crore for network decongestion, expansion, safety, IT, rolling stock, passenger amenities, high-speed rail, and station redevelopment. The plan emphasizes building partnerships with stakeholders, leveraging additional resources from various financial entities, revamping management practices to improve efficiency, and setting standards for governance and transparency. The targeted operating ratio for 2015-16 is set at 88.5%, the best in nine years.