FM Sitharaman Asks Railways To Speed Up Capacity, Safety Upgrades

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged the Ministry of Railways to accelerate efforts on capacity and infrastructure augmentation, with a strong emphasis on safety and commuter convenience as outlined in the Union Budget’s Capital Expenditure (Capex) plan. The call to action came during her review meeting with railway officials in New Delhi on 17 September.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the minister highlighted the need for the Railways to focus on key projects such as the doubling and electrification of existing tracks, as well as the laying of new railway lines across the country. This work, she noted, should align with the Capex outlay provisioned in the Union Budget.

Sitharaman also stressed the importance of implementing the Kavach system, India's indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, in a phased manner. She instructed officials to meet the allocated Capex targets within the stipulated timeframe.

Earlier this month, the Finance Minister had called on all ministries to set quarterly targets for capital expenditure and ensure timely execution.

During the meeting, railway officials reported that 434 railway projects have been identified under three economic corridors, totalling 40,900 km, with a total investment of Rs 11.16 lakh crore. Of these, 55 projects have already been sanctioned, covering a total length of 5,723 km and an investment of Rs 1.03 lakh crore. Additionally, 101 projects are set to be appraised under the corridor programme this year.

Sitharaman’s push underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s railway infrastructure, aiming to boost capacity, improve safety, and offer greater convenience to commuters nationwide.