No new railway projects but ongoing ones get fund boost
Vijay Pinjarkar | TNN | Updated: Feb 2, 2019, 05:47 IST
NAGPUR: Though railway minister Piyush Goyal did not make any new announcements for the railways in Union budget, infrastructure projects like gauge conversion, road safety, ROBs, third and fourth lines, track renewal, and bridges received substantial funds.
“Apart from allocation to ongoing projects, this time the ministry has allocated lumpsum amount for various works. Spending these will be under zonal general manager and we will have to send proposals for these works,” said a senior Central Railway official.
With line capacity constraints, operating more trains is the biggest challenge with Central Railway and South East Central Railway (SECR). It seems substantial funds have been allocated to third and fourth lines in both divisions that will address this.
An analysis of the Pink Book, which gives financial overview of various works and projects, reveals that new Wardha-Nanded-Yavatmal line gets Rs350 crore. “This should be a big boost for the line that has taken very long to fructify. Work is already underway and this should help complete a few sections faster,” said railway analyst Alok Patel.
Secondly, Nagpur-Sevagram third and fourth lines have been allocated Rs245 crore. This is good for this congested stretch. “Central Railway had committed to completing of a small stretch by March 31, which seems unlikely at current pace. Hopefully, they will be able to use this money to speed up work in coming financial year,” said Patel.
“A Rs 25 crore allocation for Teegaon-Chichonda third line in the congested ghat section may not be enough, but we would push forward as 70% work is complete on it. Wardha-Ballarshah third line has been allocated Rs160 crore and will help boost freight and passenger traffic,” a railway official said.
Itarsi-Nagpur third line got Rs185 crore, which is meagre compared to total cost of over Rs Rs2,450 crore. It remains to be seen if railways will be able to utilize the money well enough.
The overall divisional allocation capex amounts for total works to be available with Central Railway also includes longer loops on Itarsi-Nagpur and Nagpur-Bhusawal line for which Rs57 crore has been given.
The populist Wadsa-Gadchiroli new line under SECR has been allocated Rs80 crore, which is meagre considering the wildlife mitigation measures suggested by MoEFF. Jabalpur-Gondia & Chhindwara-Nagpur gauge conversion have been given Rs125 crore each. This is also to complete the project this year.
Interestingly, the much-talked about Nagpur-Nagbhid gauge conversion project, basically to transport coal, doesn’t find pace in the budget with no allocation despite Maharashtra announcing its share. “This line might see out-of-turn allocation and funds from the state utilized for starting work for now,” sources said.
In another boost, Rajnandgaon-Nagpur third line has been given Rs350 crore. “This will help expedite the work,” said Patel.
Godhni-Nagpur-Khapri and Durg-Gondia automatic signalling have been allocated Rs6 crore and Rs25 crore respectively. “Once completed, it will speed up entry and exit of trains at Nagpur station,” says Pravin Dabli, former ZRUCC member. Ajni satellite terminal has also been allocated Rs8 crore. “This may be enough to build a new platform and washing apron. More money will be needed if serious capacity expansion is to be done at Ajni,” said Basant Shukla of Bharatiya Yatri Kendra (BYK).
As reported, Badnera wagon repair workshop has been allocated Rs151 crore and will keep the project going. There is also minor allocation for clearing of land for new Ajni Loco Shed for new Alstom locos, besides modifications to Platform 1, 2 & 3 Itarsi end at Nagpur.
Officials informed Rs5 crore have been allocated for construction of new foot overbridge (FOB) from Platform 1 to 8. Funds have also been marked for facilities like escalators, FOBs, raising of platforms etc in a general pool.
SECR’s Motibagh workshop facility for periodic overhaul of broad gauge coaches has been allocated Rs20 crore. Interestingly, money has also been marked for construction of boundary wall along Bilaspur-Nagpur line in preparation for upgradation of train speed at 160 kmph.
What CRly Got (in Rs cr)
* Doubling, new lines: 615
* Traffic facilities: 76
* Level crossings: 13
* ROB/RUBs: 20
* Track renewals: 120
* Bridge works: 3
* Signalling: 17
* GM’s purview: 165
What SECR Got (in Rs cr)
* Wadsa-Gadchiroli line: 80
* Nagpur-Chhindwara: 125
* Jabalpur-Gondia: 125
* Rajnandgaon-Nagpur: 350
* Durg-Gondia signalling: 25
* Motibagh workshop: 20
“Apart from allocation to ongoing projects, this time the ministry has allocated lumpsum amount for various works. Spending these will be under zonal general manager and we will have to send proposals for these works,” said a senior Central Railway official.
With line capacity constraints, operating more trains is the biggest challenge with Central Railway and South East Central Railway (SECR). It seems substantial funds have been allocated to third and fourth lines in both divisions that will address this.
An analysis of the Pink Book, which gives financial overview of various works and projects, reveals that new Wardha-Nanded-Yavatmal line gets Rs350 crore. “This should be a big boost for the line that has taken very long to fructify. Work is already underway and this should help complete a few sections faster,” said railway analyst Alok Patel.
Secondly, Nagpur-Sevagram third and fourth lines have been allocated Rs245 crore. This is good for this congested stretch. “Central Railway had committed to completing of a small stretch by March 31, which seems unlikely at current pace. Hopefully, they will be able to use this money to speed up work in coming financial year,” said Patel.
“A Rs 25 crore allocation for Teegaon-Chichonda third line in the congested ghat section may not be enough, but we would push forward as 70% work is complete on it. Wardha-Ballarshah third line has been allocated Rs160 crore and will help boost freight and passenger traffic,” a railway official said.
Itarsi-Nagpur third line got Rs185 crore, which is meagre compared to total cost of over Rs Rs2,450 crore. It remains to be seen if railways will be able to utilize the money well enough.
The overall divisional allocation capex amounts for total works to be available with Central Railway also includes longer loops on Itarsi-Nagpur and Nagpur-Bhusawal line for which Rs57 crore has been given.
The populist Wadsa-Gadchiroli new line under SECR has been allocated Rs80 crore, which is meagre considering the wildlife mitigation measures suggested by MoEFF. Jabalpur-Gondia & Chhindwara-Nagpur gauge conversion have been given Rs125 crore each. This is also to complete the project this year.
Interestingly, the much-talked about Nagpur-Nagbhid gauge conversion project, basically to transport coal, doesn’t find pace in the budget with no allocation despite Maharashtra announcing its share. “This line might see out-of-turn allocation and funds from the state utilized for starting work for now,” sources said.
In another boost, Rajnandgaon-Nagpur third line has been given Rs350 crore. “This will help expedite the work,” said Patel.
Godhni-Nagpur-Khapri and Durg-Gondia automatic signalling have been allocated Rs6 crore and Rs25 crore respectively. “Once completed, it will speed up entry and exit of trains at Nagpur station,” says Pravin Dabli, former ZRUCC member. Ajni satellite terminal has also been allocated Rs8 crore. “This may be enough to build a new platform and washing apron. More money will be needed if serious capacity expansion is to be done at Ajni,” said Basant Shukla of Bharatiya Yatri Kendra (BYK).
As reported, Badnera wagon repair workshop has been allocated Rs151 crore and will keep the project going. There is also minor allocation for clearing of land for new Ajni Loco Shed for new Alstom locos, besides modifications to Platform 1, 2 & 3 Itarsi end at Nagpur.
Officials informed Rs5 crore have been allocated for construction of new foot overbridge (FOB) from Platform 1 to 8. Funds have also been marked for facilities like escalators, FOBs, raising of platforms etc in a general pool.
SECR’s Motibagh workshop facility for periodic overhaul of broad gauge coaches has been allocated Rs20 crore. Interestingly, money has also been marked for construction of boundary wall along Bilaspur-Nagpur line in preparation for upgradation of train speed at 160 kmph.
What CRly Got (in Rs cr)
* Doubling, new lines: 615
* Traffic facilities: 76
* Level crossings: 13
* ROB/RUBs: 20
* Track renewals: 120
* Bridge works: 3
* Signalling: 17
* GM’s purview: 165
What SECR Got (in Rs cr)
* Wadsa-Gadchiroli line: 80
* Nagpur-Chhindwara: 125
* Jabalpur-Gondia: 125
* Rajnandgaon-Nagpur: 350
* Durg-Gondia signalling: 25
* Motibagh workshop: 20
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