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HIGHLIGHTS OF POINTS OF HON’BLE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AT PRESS MEET ON RAILWAY BUDGET 2024-25 FOR WEST BENGAL
Kolkata, February, 01, 2024 :
Addressing the press and media regarding key features of the budget allocation of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information, highlighted the following points :
• Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has emphasised on development of Railways in the last 10 years.
• Budget 2024-25 will bring a major transformation in Railways.
• In The last 10 years with the direction of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the budget allocation for Railways has been enormously increased from a mere ₹ 14,000 crores to ₹ 2,52,000 crores keeping in view the requirement and development for modernisation and capacity augmentation.
• 26000 km of new Railway tracks have been constructed in the last 10 years.
• Electrification is on the fast track in all areas.
• Trains have been introduced with modern technology.
• In the Budget 2024-25, three (3) big corridors have been approved similar to the golden quadrilateral.
• Around 40,000 Km of new track in 3 corridors will be laid.
• These 3 corridors will be laid on the high-density routes.
• With these corridors, the capacity will be doubled in these high-density routes.
• Completion of this project will facilitate easy accommodation of 1000 crore passengers in comparison to 700 crore passengers at present.
• In the new regime, Government under the inspiring leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the average track laying per day increased to 15 km in comparison to only 4 km per day before 2014.
• 40000 ordinary coaches will be upgraded to Vande Bharat standard.
• A sleeper version of Vande Bharat Express trains will be rolled out very soon.
Highlighting the Railway’s inputs in WEST BENGAL, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information, briefed the following points :
• The average railway budget outlay for West Bengal during 2009-2014 was only ₹ 4,380 crores but in 2024-2025, it is ₹ 13,810 crores (all-time high), which is almost 3 times than the earlier regime.
• He further illustrated that a budget allocation of ₹ 13,810 crores is sufficient fund for the complete rejuvenation of the Railway network in West Bengal. But unfortunately, the State Government is not cooperating, thereby failing the visionary concept of the Hon’ble Prime Minister “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”. Railways in West Bengal can flourish only with the joint effort of all the sections.
• 98 stations are being redeveloped into “Amrit Station”.
• 151 nos. of “One Station One Product” stalls opened at Railway stations in West Bengal.
• 406 flyovers and underpasses have been constructed in the last 10 years.
• The Railway projects can progress only with the support of the State Government.
