look news india
While presenting the Union Budget 2024-25, Union Finance Minister Sitharaman has also given a big gift to the Railways. If we talk about the Railways, then in the recent past, the Railways has faced many tragedies.
Due to the train accident in Odisha in June last year, the train accident on the Bihar-Bangladesh border last month and the recent train accident near Gonda in Uttar Pradesh, the ministry is focusing on prevention of accidents and enhancing railway infrastructure. Indian Railways is also working on projects like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and Bullet Train. Big announcements have been made in this budget to exempt passengers from waiting tickets and increase their safety. Rs 34,603 crore has been allocated for new railway lines in the Union Budget 2024-25. Rs 34,410 crore was allocated for this purpose in the previous budget. However, the allocation for the double railway line sector has been reduced. Rs 29,312 crore has been allocated for this purpose in the budget for the year 2024-25. Rs 35,046 crore was allocated for this purpose in the budget for the year 2023-24.
Budget makes massive allocation of Rs 2,62,200 crore under capital expenditure for Railways
The budget plans to allocate Rs 6,472 crore for electrification projects. However, Rs 8,361 crore was allocated for this purpose in the budget for the year 2023-24. Rs 15,511 crore has been allocated in the budget for railway passenger amenities. Rs 9,618 crore was allocated for this purpose in the last budget.
How much budget for signal and railway track renovation?
Budget has also been allocated for signal and telecommunication related works. Rs 4647 crore has been allocated for this in this budget for the year 2024-25. Rs 3,581 crore was allocated for this purpose in the previous budget. Accordingly, the budget allocation for railway track renewal has also increased. It is planned to allocate Rs 17,652 crore for this in the Railway Budget. Rs 16,826 crore was allocated for this purpose in the last Union Budget.
Field preparation of Armoured Automatic Train Protection System
Railway allocation has increased this year. The government is giving priority to making rail travel comfortable and safe. To protect trains from accidents, the government is preparing to move fast towards installing a fully automatic train protection system. This sector will remain an important center of investment for the next 10 years.
Priority given to signalling and high-speed trains
The government has decided to spend heavily on railways with substantial investments in all areas of railway infrastructure. Wagons and coaches, signalling, new lines, gauge conversion and high speed trains are on the government's priority list.