Broad gauge rail track conversion in northeast to be completed soon -Governance Now

Broad gauge rail track conversion in northeast to be completed soon

Dedicated freight corridor would be commissioned by December 2019

Vishwas Dass | November 11, 2016 | New Delhi

#bullet trains #dedicated freigh corridor #broad gauge #Railways

Railway board chairman A.K. Mital on Friday said that the conversion of metre gauge tracks into broad gauge in the north eastern states would be completed by the end of current fiscal to give a boost to economic activities in the region.

He added that they would not leave any stone unturned to strengthen rail infrastructure in the region.

Speaking at the Economic Editors’ Conference, Mital highlighted achievements of the Indian Railways in the last two and a half years. He admitted that dedicated freight corridor (DFC) project had languished earlier, but in the past two years, a lot of progress was made.

He said that the DFC project would be commissioned by December 2019 and the freight trains would run at an average speed of 70 kmph. An investment of Rs 35,000 crore has been made in the last two years for the project.

On unmanned level crossings (ULCs), Mital said that all of the ULCs would be manned in the next four years to put an end to mishaps. “We are working to ensure zero fatalities,” he added.

All the state capitals would be connected with each other by May 2020, he said.

On the merger of railway budget with the union budget, Mital said there are no negative implications because of the move and it is the railways, which is going to benefit. “It is a very simple merger and does not have any adverse implications,” he said.

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu is on a three day tour to north eastern states and could not attend the conference. But, in a video message, Prabhu said proactive steps are being taken by the railways to speed up crucial projects like high speed trains, dedicated freight corridor (DFC), cleanliness at stations and in trains and, internet connectivity.

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