Indian Government dedicates 88 new railway projects in five states

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways, Government of India inaugurated and dedicated a host of infrastructure projects, projects related to passenger amenities and facilities at various railway stations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka through video conferencing yesterday. 88 Railway projects were dedicated to the Nation worth more than Rs 1,000 crore making Indian Railways future-ready. Various dignitaries were also present on this occasion at different locations.

While inaugurating the rail projects in Kerala, Goyal said that it’s important to improve connectivity in the state which is a keeper of Indian Heritage, and for the railway passengers using the various amenities in the state of Kerala. Our effort is that we give a big lift to the infrastructure of the railways in Kerala. We give a boost to the facilities connecting Kerala with the rest of the country. We ignite more economic activity in the area and transform the railway network through the state of Kerala. The budget is allocated for Kerala is continuously increasing year on year. We are committed to having a vibrant railway network across Kerala in the days and months to come, he added.

While inaugurating rail projects in Tamil Nadu, Goyal said that we are committed to making Tamil Nadu Railways a fully electrified network so there is no pollution due to the Railways. We have doubled the speed of electrification in the last 6-7 years. In the next 2.5 years, the entire rail network of the state will be electrified. We are also constructing the first-ever vertical bridge, Pamban bridge, which will connect the Ram Setu and give pilgrims visiting Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi easier access in that region. We have done 100% LED lighting in all the Railway Stations and service buildings in the State of Tamil Nadu. It also boasts of the first Green Corridor, a 114 km stretch from Rameswaram to Manamadura. It is India's first green Railway corridor.

On 17th February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a new weekly train that will connect Chennai to the Statue of Unity, bringing Tamil Nadu closer to the Iron Man of India in Kevadiya. Indian Railways is adding the third dimension to Tamil Nadu's development, so now instead of the double engine of the Central & State Govt of Tamil Nadu working as partners in progress, we have a third engine provided by Indian Railways, he added.

While inaugurating Rail projects in Karanataka, Goyal said, “Today, I pay tribute to late Shri Suresh Angadi for exemplary work he has done for Railways and for the state of Karnataka. When the both Central Govt. led by Shri Narendra Modi, State government work together as a team that it gives a double engine speed to progress and to growth and Indian Railways gives the third dimension and when all three central govt., state govt. supported by the Indian Railways' work together, unprecedented progress can be seen in the state of Karnataka. Today, doubling of track from Gubbi to Nittur, while it may seem like a small stretch, it is a part of a larger vision to double the railway line from Arsikere to Tumukuru on the Bengaluru-Hubballi line. The larger project between the Londa and the Miraj 186km project will be completed in the next two years. The Raibag railway station has also been provided with amenities and all of these projects put together will provide a catalyst for Karnataka's progress and economic development.

The Indian Railways is committed to improving all the railway facilities in the state. The suburban railway in Bengaluru also will transform the transportation in the state of Karnataka and for the people of Bengaluru to which the Govt. of Karnataka and Indian Railways both are very committed and working in partnership through the K-ride a special purpose vehicle set up between Indian Railways and Govt. of Karnataka. Several other projects in Karnataka are being done to improve the facilities and ensure a very good and happy experience for all the passengers using the Indian Railways. Integration of the metro services of Bengaluru with the suburban railway is being tried to provide seamless transportation.

While inaugurating Rail Projects in Madhya Pradesh, Goyal said that this year in budget 2021-22 recently introduced by Hon'ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, 7700 cr. have been allocated for different railway projects in Madhya Pradesh.  The Central Government, State Government, and Indian Railways are serving the state as the third engine. A big solar power plant is coming up in Rewa. Indian Railways is committed to electrifying completely its entire network by December 2023 and all trains either passengers or goods will run on electric traction and will eventually reduce pollution in centrally-located Madhya Pradesh. In the next series, Indian Railways will be able to run its entire network with the use of renewable energy by 2030 and will be the world's first biggest railway.

He said that this is also the vision of the Prime Minister to give convenient facilities to passengers. Now, most of the trains are running with LHB coaches. Safety is improved. After March 2019, no passenger death occurred in railway accidents in the last 22 months. Indian Railways is determined to contribute in the country's progress. This year around 2 lac 15 thousand crore investment Indian Railways will put in which will bring historic progress in Indian Railways.