New Delhi. From introducing 200 new Vande Bharat trains to increase safety measures for passengers, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Saturday promised to take the railway network and facilities to the next level with the Rs 2.52 lakh crore allocated for the railways in the budget. What did the Railways get in the budget? He spoke to IANS about this.
The Railway Minister appeared enthusiastic about commissioning more than 31,000 km of train tracks since 2014 and furthering the pace of electrification of more than 41,000 km of rail routes, making Indian Railways world-class with high-speed bullet trains, incorporating new technology for safety, and building modern stations.
How does this budget promote the expansion of railways?
The Rs 2.52 lakh crore allocated for the railways in this budget will promote the expansion of the network as well as technology inclusion that has been taking place since 2014.
Will 'Make in India' get a boost under the Railway Budget in 2025-26?
The new projects approved under the budget include the construction of 200 Vande Bharat trains, 50 Namo Bharat trains, and 100 Amrit Bharat trains. Apart from this, 1,000 of new bridges and underpasses will be built. Projects worth Rs 4.60 lakh crore have been included in the budget today. Safety is the key focus in the budget with an allocation of Rs 1.16 lakh crore. Overall, the budget has made major provisions for expanding the network and increasing facilities for passengers.
What is the railways' vision to bring in new technology?
This budget has paved the way for realizing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of democratizing the technology. He emphasizes making technology accessible to the masses and believes that technology should not be limited to a select few. The budget has worked on this front.
Apart from the bullet train, what technological innovations are the railways planning to introduce after the budget?
We are working very fast on the bullet train project and have completed work on a route of over 340 km. The project will bring rare technology like undersea tunnels to the country. This is a major achievement in itself and apart from this, there are many small innovations and technologies that the railways are bringing to the country. Bridges are being built over rivers and stations, all the work is going on at a very fast pace.
What is the plan to enhance the railway infrastructure with the funds available in the budget?
The budget has allocated Rs 2.52 lakh crore for the expansion of railways. These funds are likely to be used for doubling and tripling existing lines as well as laying new tracks. New trains will be introduced, new stations will be built and a lot of money will be spent on increasing safety measures.
Has any special provision been made for railways in the budget?
An interesting provision has been made for railways in the budget by the Finance Minister. It also allows maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) for railways in the country on the lines of existing facilities for airlines and ships. This will help generate employment through work related to the repair of India-based railway systems, motors, and engines anywhere in the world.
The total expenditure on safety-related activities is Rs 1,14,062 crore in the revised estimate for 2024-25 and Rs 1,16,514 crore in the budget estimate for 2025-26. Indian Railways is making significant progress in network expansion by adding about 4,000 km annually. Indian Railways has laid 31,180 km of new tracks during the last 10 years.
Shailendra Kumar Goyal, former director general of the Indian Railway Signal Engineering and Telecommunication Institute, said, "The gross budget outlay for signaling and telecommunication works for the financial year 2025-26 is Rs 6,800 crore. Considering the Indian Railways' plan to provide a 'Kavach' facility on 44,000 RKM (route KM) in the next five years, this amount is inadequate." He said that important passenger safety works should be given top priority to restore confidence after the recent rail accidents.
