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FM Sitharaman reviews Railways Ministry's capex plan

2024-09-20

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reviewed the capital expenditure (capex) plan of the Railways Ministry, emphasising the importance of enhancing commuter safety and convenience. She urged officials to expedite the phased implementation of Kavach, India's indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, and meet the allocated capex targets within the stipulated timeframe.

Railways Ministry officials informed Sitharaman that Kavach-related works are currently underway on over 3,000 route kilometers, including the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai sections.

Highlighting the government's focus on improving citizens' "ease of living," Sitharaman urged the Ministry to prioritise capacity augmentation, safety measures, and commuter convenience. This includes doubling and electrifying existing tracks, as well as laying new railway lines according to the Union Budget's capex provisions.

She also called for the accelerated conversion of 40,000 standard rail bogies to Vande Bharat standards, as announced in the Interim Budget 2024-25, to enhance passenger safety, comfort, and convenience.

This meeting is part of a series of reviews with ministries and departments that have significant capex allocations in the Union Budget. Sitharaman stressed the importance of achieving the FY 2024-25 capex targets and building on the progress made during the government's first 100 days. (ET)