150 more pvt trains to chug off

Rs12,000 cr allocated for laying new lines, Rs700 cr for doubling rail tracks, Rs5,786.97 crore for coaches, engines and Rs1,650 crore for signals, telecommunications

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 1

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday proposed 150 more Tejas-type private trains for the Railways. The minister also proposed to set up a solar power plant on the vacant land of the Railways alongside the tracks.

Notably, Kisan Rail scheme for the development of the national cold supply chain for perishable agricultural products will be built under the public–private partnership (PPP) model. The government has also proposed refrigerated parcel vans to carry perishable goods through select mail express and freight trains.

The Railways got a budgetary allocation of Rs 70,000 crore and an outlay for capital expenditure amounting to Rs 1.61 lakh crore, a paltry 3 per cent more than that of the previous year.

The revenue expenditure, which includes an estimated salary payout of Rs 92,993 crore, is about Rs 6,000 crore more than the last year.

Rs 12,000 crore has been allocated for laying new lines, Rs 700 crore for doubling of rail tracks, Rs 5,786.97 crore for railway coaches and engines and Rs 1,650 crore for signals and telecommunications. This year, an amount of Rs 2,725.63 crore has been allocated to increase the facilities for railway passengers.

The Budget has set a target of 12.26 million tonnes of freight, which is 4.2 million tonnes (3.4 per cent) higher than the revised Budget estimate for the current financial year. In the coming financial year, revenue from passenger fares is estimated to be Rs 61,000 crore and the income from freight is expected to be Rs 1,47,000.

The Finance Minister proposed a 148-km Bangalore suburban transport project at a cost of Rs 18,600 crore which would be developed on the lines of the metro project. The Central Government will provide 20 per cent of the amount for the project and up to 60 per cent for external assistance.

As many as 550 Wi-Fi facilities have been commissioned at railway stations, she added.

Meanwhile, on seaports, the government would consider corporatising at least one major port and subsequently its listing on the stock exchanges.

Developing waterways has its impact on the eco-system on both the banks of the river.

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