Worth ₹ 96,182 Crore Sanctioned

While last mile connectivity projects continue to be accorded the highest priority, the Railways intend to fast track the sanctioned works on 7,000 kms of double/third/fourth lines and commission 1200 km in 2015-16 at an investment of ₹ 8686 crore. Presenting the Railway Budget 2015-16 in Parliament today Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said this budgetary allotment under Capital is 84% higher than 2014-15. He said, “We also intend commissioning 800 km of gauge conversion. Additionally, we have sanctioned 77 projects covering 9,400 km of doubling/tripling/quadrupling works along with their electrification at a total cost of ₹ 96,182 crore which is over 2700% higher in terms of amount sanctioned in 2013-14, 2014-15 being a Plan holiday”.

The Minister said the priority for undertaking projects has been determined by a designated committee for capacity enhancement, revenue generation and decongestion. He said negotiations are on with financial institutions for funding of these projects through extra budgetary resources. These projects cover almost all States, the Minister added.

Railway infrastructure sanctioning expands capacity and prioritises committee-selected projects with extra budgetary funding arrangements. The government sanctioned a package of railway infrastructure projects combining doubling, tripling and quadrupling works with electrification, and prioritised fast tracking of sanctioned multi line sections alongside targeted commissioning and gauge conversion in the coming year. A designated committee will determine project priority based on capacity enhancement, revenue generation and decongestion, while funding is to be arranged through negotiations with financial institutions to secure extra budgetary resources.