Maligaon, Feb 05: “The General Budget 2021” has been historic for Indian Railways. It has focused on time bound deliverence of infrastructure projects in Indian Railways.
This will act as a huge catalyst to revitalize the economy and lead Indian Railways towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The record outlay announced by the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman of Rs. 1, 10,055 crore, of which Rs. 1, 07,100 crore is for capital expenditure while presenting the Union Budget 2021-22 in the Parliament will help to create a ‘future ready’ Railway system by 2030.
It may be mentioned here that Indian Railways has received highest ever total Plan capex of Rs. 2, 15,058 Crores this year with Rs. 7,500 Crores from internal resources, Rs. 1,00,258 Crores from extra budgetary resources and Rs. 1,07,100 Crores from capital expenditure allocation given in the General Budget. With this increase in Capex, Indian Railways will be the driver of Indian Economy in near future.
The NFR has received an allocation of Rs. 8,060 crs in the recently placed Union Budget. Out of this Rs. 4,330 crs has been allocated for New Lines and Doubling works. Rs. 3,470 crs has been allocated for Safety and Capacity Enhancement Works. Passenger Amenities received Rs. 166 crs.
The Gross Budgetary Allocation for 2021-22 Financial year is 238% more than the average yearly allocation during the period from 2009-14 (Rs. 3383 crs per year).
This year’s budget has allocate Rs. 650crs for doubling of the New Bongaigaon-Agthori(vis Rangiya) and Rs. 610 crs for the New Bongaigaon – Goalpara – Guwahati section. Similarly Digaru – Hojai doubling work has been allocated Rs. 100 crs. and New Mainaguri – Gumanihat doubling work allocated Rs. 110 crs.
Among New Line projects, Sivok – Rangpo project (44.96 kms) has been allocated Rs. 1100 crs, Tetelia – Byrnihat project has been allocated Rs 101crs and Agartala – Akhaura project has been allocated Rs. 300 crs.
Other ongoing New Line projects like Jiribam – Imphal has been allocated Rs 1000 crs, Bairabi – Sairang project has also been allocated Rs 1000 crs and Dimapur – Zubza project has been allocated Rs. 800 crs.
This year’s budget has put the thrust mainly on Infrastructure development, Speed augmentation of trains, Development of terminal facilities, Improvement of amenities for passengers and other users, Construction of Road over bridges and Road under bridges for the safety of road users, Modernization of the signaling system for enhancement of safety and speed.
Railways have given emphasis to become future ready to meet the demand and aspirations of common people for economic development. NFR is already undertaking rail connectivity work in all the 8 states of the NE region.
Doubling of Railway lines in identified High Density Network sections are undertaken for faster connectivity. Automatic signaling system will be provided in the High Density Network sections.
Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is also planned to be implemented in HDN and HUN routes. NFR is also taking measures to optimize logistic services to boost Economic growth in the region.
Focus is also on International connectivity particularly with Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar as per Act East Policy of our government which will prove to be beneficial for large scale economic development of entire NE Region.
Indian Railways is marching ahead on its bigger plan like achieving 100% electrification and a Net Zero Carbon Emission network by 2030. As per Indian Railways Target of Electrification work; Electrification upto Guwahati is expected to be completed by March this year. Work in the balance portion of NFR is targeted for completion by March 2024.
