The Indian Railways (IR) has set a target of 100 per cent electrification of its network by December 2023, according to economic survey 2021-22.
The government has increased the CAPEX (Capital expenditures) by five fold in the last seven years.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled Economic Survey 2021-22 in the Lok Sabha.
The survey claims that IR is targeting 100 per cent electrification of its network by December 2023, upgradation of Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata corridors to 160 kmph.
The CAPEX has been increased substantially for IR from an average annual of Rs 45,980 crore during 2009-14 to Rs 2,15,058 crore during 2021-22.
The survey said, “An average of 1,835 track km per year of new track length has been added through new-line and multi-tracking projects during 2014-2021 as compared to the average of 720 track km during 2009-14,” survey said.
The railways has operated 1,841 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately six lakh tonnes of perishables items including fruits and vegetables.
“Despite Covid-19 pandemic, revenue earning freight loading (excluding loading by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. (KRCL) was 1230.9 million tonnes in 2020-21,” it said.
The plan envisages the creation of a future ready railway system, that is able to increase the modal share of railways in freight to 40-45 per cent from the present level of 26-27 per cent.
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