As many as five ongoing projects under South East Central Railway (SECR) had been put in the priority list by Union Railway Ministry for fast tracking implementation of the projects.
Prioritization of projects is a continuous exercise carried out on the basis of traffic and safety considerations and availability of funds, officials stated.
In addition to ongoing projects, 77 doubling / tripling / quadrupling projects having an aggregate length of 9,040 Km and total estimated cost of Rs 90,304 crore were included in the Railway Budget for 2015-16 to decongest existing saturated section and create additional carrying capacity.
Zone wise break up of fast track implementation of projects is as under:- Central Railway 6, East Coast Railway 8, East Central Railway 11, Eastern Railway 1, North Central Railway 4, North East Railway 4, Northeast Frontier Railway 2, Northern Railway 4, North Western Railway 2, South Central Railway 8, South East Central Railway 5, South Eastern Railway 5, Southern Railway 4, South Western Railway 3, West Central Railway 6 and Western Railway 4.
Steps taken to reduce gap between project conceptualization and commissioning include review of procedures for Detailed Project Report (DPR) / detailed estimate examination / sanction, delegation of powers, adequate funding for prioritized projects and regular monitoring of progress.
Notably, the Union Railway Ministry would take up development of Multi Functional Complexes (MFCs) at six Railway Stations in Chhattisgarh.
They are-- Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Durg, Korba and Raigarh, officials stated.
As a part of Railway’s commitment to upgrade/augment passenger amenities at Railway Stations on continuous basis, development of Multi Functional Complexes (MFCs) at Railway Stations was first announced in Railway Budget 2009-10 to provide rail user facilities like Shopping, Food Stalls & Restaurants, Book Stalls, PCOs/STD/ ISD/FAX Booths, Medicine & Variety Stores, Budget Hotels (subject to viability), parking, etc.
Initially, development of MFCs was assigned to Railway Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) who develop MFCs with their own equity and to Rail land Development Authority (RlDA) who develop MFCs through private sector participation. Total expenditure incurred by PSUs on construction of MFCs since beginning is approximately Rs 109 crore. No expenditure is incurred by RlDA for developing MFCs.
Subsequently, some of the MFCs were assigned to Zonal Railways. Works for developing MFCs by Zonal Railways are sanctioned under Plan Head – ‘Passenger Amenities’.
Notably, the South East Central Railway (SECR) is planning to install escalators and lifts at various Railway stations under Bilaspur and Raipur divisions.
According to officials, the zone is going to install two more escalators and one lift at Bilaspur station and work in this connection would be completed by March 2017, officials stated.
Similarly, SECR has sanctioned two additional escalators for Raipur station and two escalators each for Durg and Gondia Railway stations which would be installed by December 2016. Moreover, the Railways will be installing two escalators in Rajnandgaon Railway Station by March 2017.
Notably, the move was initiated in the interest of elderly persons, women and differently-abled people.
Besides, three new lifts each will be installed at Raipur and Durg Railway stations while two lifts each will be setup at Rajnandgaon and Gondia stations by March 2017, officials stated.
Notably SECR will also soon start the process of re-developing Bilaspur, Raigarh and Champa Railway stations in Chhattisgarh as part of its mega modernisation plan, officials stated.