The Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressed media personnel from the North Eastern Region in a virtual press conference today to elaborate on the key announcements made in the Railway Budget 2024-25. The minister highlighted the government’s commitment to modernizing the rail network and ensuring the rapid expansion of railway tracks in the North Eastern Region, in line with the Act East Policy.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Union Finance Minister for the record allocation of Rs 2,62,200 crores as capital expenditure for Railways. He also noted that Rs 10,376 crores have been earmarked for the North Eastern Region in FY 2024-25, which represents a five-fold increase from the annual average budget outlay during the period 2009-14. Additionally, Rs 74,972 crores have already been allocated for 18 ongoing projects involving new tracks totalling 1,368 kilometers.
Other highlights of the railway budget for the North Eastern Region in 2024-25 are as follows:
· 173 kilometers of new tracks per year (average) during the 2014-24 period, compared to only 67 kilometers per year during 2009-14.
· Electrification of 142 kilometers of tracks per year (average) during 2014-24, compared to none during 2009-14.
· Development of 60 stations as Amrit Stations, including one in Dimapur.