Railways gets 2,000 projects worth ₹41,000 cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation around 2,000 railway infrastructure projects worth over ₹41,000 crore. Calling it a historic day for railways, the PM says 553 stations spanning 12 states spread over 300 districts will be “redeveloped” under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which will enhance the travel experience and improve ‘ease of living’.

He said the development projects of today will create jobs and self-employment opportunities for lakhs of youth, while also benefit those studying in schools. “Youth have the maximum right to decide how Viksit Bharat will unfold”, PM Modi says.

“Baleshwar Station in Odisha is designed on the theme of Bhagwan Jagannath Temple and Sikkim’s Rangpur will carry the imprint of local architecture, Sangner station in Rajasthan displays 16th-century hand-block printing, the station at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu will display Chola influence and Ahmedabad Station is inspired by Modhera Surya Mandir, Dwarka Station is inspired by the Dwarkadheesh Temple, IT City Gurugram station will carry the IT theme, meaning “Amrit Bharat Station will introduce the specialities of that city to the world”,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi reiterated the creation of a “Viksit Bharat” in the last 10 years, and gave the example of modernised semi-high-speed trains like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, NaMo Bharat, the fast pace of electrification of rail lines, and cleanliness inside trains and on the station platforms.

He says as the economy jumps to 5th place in global ranking from 11th, there is a massive increase in the railway budget from ₹45,000 crore 10 years ago to ₹2.5 lakh crore today. “Just imagine how much our strength will increase when we become the third largest economic superpower,” he added.

Crediting India’s modern infrastructure, the Prime Minister hailed the nation as the most attractive place for investment all over the world.

The BJP-led central government has invested ₹31,67,470 crore in infrastructure since it came to power in 2014. Some of India's biggest infrastructure projects are going onstream soon with a promise to put the economy on a high growth path, reported Fortune India magazine, in its February issue report. Its 508-km Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train is comparable to the Delhi-Mumbai expressway in terms of scale and cost (₹1.08 lakh crore). The trains will run at 320 km per hour and cover 508 km and 12 stations in two hours and 58 minutes.

The ministry has operationalised the majority of sections on its most ambitious project ever—western and eastern freight corridors. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India, implementing the project, has commissioned a 1,337-km Sahnewal–Sonnagar stretch of the eastern corridor. The future corridors—East Coast (Kharagpur–Vijayawada, 1,115 km), East West Sub Corridor-I (Palghar-Dankuni, 2,073 km), East West Sub Corridor-II (Rajkharsawan–Andal, 195 km), North-South Sub Corridor (Vijaywada-Itarsi, 975 km)—are estimated to cost ₹2 lakh crore.