Indian Railways increases budget for new lines, gauge conversion and increases it by almost six times – Railways News

Indian Railways has significantly increased its financial commitment towards the expansion and modernization of its network. For the financial year 2024-25, the government has allocated nearly six times the amount compared to the previous decade, earmarking Rs 68,634 crore for projects related to new lines, gauge conversion and doubling.

This funding increase aims to accelerate the development of critical infrastructure across the country. Since April 2024, Indian Railways oversees 488 infrastructure projects, spanning a total length of 44,488 km. These projects, estimated to cost Rs 7.44 lakh crore, include 187 new lines, 40 gauge conversions and 261 doubling initiatives. Over the past ten years, railways have successfully commissioned 31,180 km of new lines, doubling and changing their gauge, which is more than double the pace of development compared to 2009-2014.

During 2014-2024, Indian Railways made remarkable progress, commissioning an average of 8.54 km of track per day, compared to just 4.2 km per day during 2009-2014. . In 2023-2024 alone, 5,309 km of infrastructure was commissioned, with a focus on improving the overall capacity and connectivity of the rail network.

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The northeast region has also seen substantial growth, with a five-fold increase in budget allocation now standing at Rs 10,376 crore for 2024-25. The region saw the commissioning of 1,728 km of tracks between 2014 and 2024, a significant increase compared to the 333 km commissioned in 2009-2014. Additionally, Indian Railways has been focusing on improving project execution in the Northeast, including ongoing works in Assam such as the Agthori-Dekargaon railway line, which was recently approved.

Completion of these projects depends on several factors, including land acquisition, environmental clearances and coordination with state governments. Nonetheless, Indian Railways’ overall commitment underlines the government’s determination to strengthen connectivity and improve transport infrastructure to meet the country’s growing demands.

This announcement comes as part of IndiaIndia’s broader infrastructure effort, aligning with the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ initiative which celebrates India’s growth and development across multiple sectors.