Expectation from Rail infra budget 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Government lay emphasis on development and modernising the railway infrastructure ever since it took over. It has been a turnaround story for Indian railways since 2014 with respect to infrastructure development.
Development of Railway infrastructure has been one of the priority targets of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government ever since it took over.
A long spell of under investment in Indian railways has plagued the development process. To tackle this Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has brought in several measures.

Indian Railway has an ambitious target of pumping more than Rs 8 trillion over the next four years for modernisation of its infrastructure.

Giving a big push to the infrastructure drive Govt approved nine projects worth about Rs 24,000 crore in nine states for expansion of railway network.

Railways has already signed a Rs.97,636 crore deal with Japan for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project. It is also redeveloping 400 stations across the country. Adoption of green fuel is another major development.

The first CNG train was launched on the Rewari-Rohtak section of Northern zone. On the other side Freight carriers are important for the revenue generation. Railways is now ready to handle 1.2 billion of cargo loadings . Broad Gauge Lines commissioned Railways in 2015-16:2828 Km (highest ever) Average commissioning Broad gauge lines from 2009-14: 1528 Km.IR commissioned 545 KM of Broad Gauge lines in North East in 2015-16.

During 2014-16, 3105 route kilometres have been electrified.In 2015-16, a total of 1253 unmanned level crossings were eliminated.

1024 Road over/ Road under bridges were constructed by Indian Railways.Railways provided 27,000 bio-toilets in trains in the last two years

However there was a shortfall of about Rs 14,000 cr in total revenue earnings besides the cross-subsidy in passenger segment which has touched Rs 33,000 crore.

Further the Pay Commission commitments mean added burden of Rs 32,000 crore. Railway budget is now merged with General budget and with the launch of new non fare revenue policy to generate additional 15000cr rupees, Railway Minster says challenges will be addressed in a much more efficient way.