Union Budget: FM Sitharaman endorses National Rail Plan; announces outlay of Rs 1,10,055cr

While presenting Union Budget 2021-22 in Parliament on Monday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsed National Rail Plan for India-2030 and also anunced a record outlay of Rs 1,10,055 crore to Indian Railways, of which Rs 1,07,100 crore is for capital expenditure. Union Finance Minister apprised that  Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan for India - 2030 with an aim to create a 'future-rey' Railway system by 2030. 

RE | Union Budget 2021 LIVE Updates: FM Highlights Key Features; Opposition Slams Budget

FM Sitharaman endorses National Rail Plan 

Stating that bringing down logistics cost for Railway industry is at core of 'our strategy' to enable 'Make in India', Union Finance Minister said, "It is expected that Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and Eastern DFC will be commissioned by June 2022. I am providing a record sum of Rs 1,10,055 crores, for Railways of which Rs 1,07,100 crores is for capital expenditure."                                             

RE | Union Budget 2021: Bahi Khata To Budget App, 3 Major Changes In Tritions This Year        

Highlighting that Union Budget also puts emphasis on passenger convenience and safety, Sitharaman said that for an enhanced travel experience, Railways will introduce an aestically-designed Vista Dome LHB coach on tourist routes.

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Aatmanirbhar Bharat Mission, she informed that an indigeusly developed automatic train system will be provided to high-density network and highly utilised network routes of Indian railways to eliminate occurrence of train collision due to human error.

"100 per cent electrification of bro-gauge routes will be completed by December 2023," Finance Minister ded. 

RE | MoS Anurag Thakur Asserts 'Union Budget 2021 Will Be As Per People's Expectations'

Nirmala Sitharaman also mentioned that various initiatives, including Sonnagar - Gomoh Section (263.7 km) of Eastern DFC which will be developed in PPP mode in 2021-22, Gomoh-Dankuni section (274.3 km) will be taken up in short succession. She also mentioned that proposed dedicated freight corridor projects, namely East Coast corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawa, East-West Corridor from Bhusaval to Kharagpur to Dankuni, and rth-South corridor from Itarsi to Vijayawa will be undertaken. 

RE | Gautam Gambhir Lauds Union Budget 2021; Avers It 'will Pave Way For Ecomic Recovery'

(with inputs from ANI)