Major decisions unlikely, but ongoing railway projects to get funds
Vijay Pinjarkar | tnn | Feb 1, 2019, 05:20 IST
Nagpur: With railway minister Piyush Goyal, holding temporary charge as finance minister, set to announce part of railway budget on Friday, no major policy decisions are expected for Indian Railways within the main vote-on-account.
Railway sources said substantial funding support will continue for ongoing capacity and infrastructure enhancement projects like the third and fourth lines between Nagpur-Wardha, Nagpur-Itarsi and Sevagram-Ballarshah with an emphasis to finish as many near-completion projects as possible before the election season begins.
“The minister is expected to announce more funds for upgrade of passenger amenities like FOBs, escalators, lifts, lounges, waiting halls etc at various stations. It is possible new stations may be added to the list for redevelopment. Nagpur is among one of them currently under various stages of progress on this front,” a senior officer said.
Though the real picture will be clear only after the Pink Book, which gives the financial overview of various works and projects, is received, being specific to Vidarbha and Nagpur — gauge conversion funds to complete the narrow-gauge network is expected to come through in this vote-on-account.
In Maharashtra, 36 major projects worth Rs59,624 crore of 5,976km length are in progress. These projects are expected to get more funds.
“This will include funds for ongoing Nagpur-Chhindwara-Jabalpur line and electrification of entire network. Funds for Nagpur-Nagbhid gauge conversion will start to flow from this year,” said SECR official.
Basant Shukla of Bharatiya Yatri Kendra (BYK) hoped passengers’ long-pending demand for a direct train between Nagpur-Lucknow-Raebareli is met.
However, a Central Railway official said, “Don’t expect any new trains or extensions owing to capacity constraints but certainly stoppages to existing trains in towns like Hinganghat, Kamptee, Betul, Chandrapur are expected.”
Railway officials said similarly, funds for tripling of the Gondia-Nagpur line and quadrupling of the Nagpur-Sewagram line are also expected to continue.
Railway projects analyst Alok Patel says it is unlikely that new lines will be announced in the vote-on-account. Funds will also continue in a modest manner for installation of automatic signalling for short stretches around Nagpur station.
Brijbhushan Shukla of Rail Yatri Sangh expected the minister to announce faster MEMU/DEMU trains for busy towns like Gondia, Wardha, Amravati and Chandrapur.
However, Central Railway officials said not much is expected on proposed MEMU shed near Godhni at this moment.
Railway sources said substantial funding support will continue for ongoing capacity and infrastructure enhancement projects like the third and fourth lines between Nagpur-Wardha, Nagpur-Itarsi and Sevagram-Ballarshah with an emphasis to finish as many near-completion projects as possible before the election season begins.
“The minister is expected to announce more funds for upgrade of passenger amenities like FOBs, escalators, lifts, lounges, waiting halls etc at various stations. It is possible new stations may be added to the list for redevelopment. Nagpur is among one of them currently under various stages of progress on this front,” a senior officer said.
Though the real picture will be clear only after the Pink Book, which gives the financial overview of various works and projects, is received, being specific to Vidarbha and Nagpur — gauge conversion funds to complete the narrow-gauge network is expected to come through in this vote-on-account.
In Maharashtra, 36 major projects worth Rs59,624 crore of 5,976km length are in progress. These projects are expected to get more funds.
“This will include funds for ongoing Nagpur-Chhindwara-Jabalpur line and electrification of entire network. Funds for Nagpur-Nagbhid gauge conversion will start to flow from this year,” said SECR official.
Basant Shukla of Bharatiya Yatri Kendra (BYK) hoped passengers’ long-pending demand for a direct train between Nagpur-Lucknow-Raebareli is met.
However, a Central Railway official said, “Don’t expect any new trains or extensions owing to capacity constraints but certainly stoppages to existing trains in towns like Hinganghat, Kamptee, Betul, Chandrapur are expected.”
Railway officials said similarly, funds for tripling of the Gondia-Nagpur line and quadrupling of the Nagpur-Sewagram line are also expected to continue.
Railway projects analyst Alok Patel says it is unlikely that new lines will be announced in the vote-on-account. Funds will also continue in a modest manner for installation of automatic signalling for short stretches around Nagpur station.
Brijbhushan Shukla of Rail Yatri Sangh expected the minister to announce faster MEMU/DEMU trains for busy towns like Gondia, Wardha, Amravati and Chandrapur.
However, Central Railway officials said not much is expected on proposed MEMU shed near Godhni at this moment.
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