The Central government has made a budget estimate of Rs33.48 crore for improving passenger amenities for South East Central Railway (SECR) under ‘Adarsh Station Scheme’ during financial year 2016-17, officials informed.
Development/modernization of stations is presently taken up under ‘Adarsh Station Scheme’. The expenditure on development of stations under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme is generally funded under Plan Head –‘Passenger Amenities’, they informed.
1253 railway stations have been identified for development under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme in the country. Out of these, 992 railway stations have been developed under ‘Adarsh’ Station Scheme.
On the other hand, the Union Ministry of Railways has set track renewal target of 551 kms for South East Central Railway (SECR) division during the 12th plan period.
A Track renewal is an ongoing process which is undertaken as and when a stretch of track becomes due for renewal on age-cum-condition basis, officials informed.
Track Renewal works are planned in advance every year and their execution is prioritized according to the condition of track and overall availability of funds ensuring all the time that track is in a sound condition for safe running of trains.
In case, if any stretch of track is not renewed in time due to various reasons including scarcity of funds, material etc., suitable speed restrictions are imposed to ensure safe running of trains.
As on March 31, 2016, track renewal covering 5900 km of track renewal have been sanctioned, out of which 2668 km is targetted for the year 2016-17.
As per norms, track renewal works are to be completed within two to three years of sanction. This, however, also depends on budget availability, officials stated.
The total Budget outlay in year 2016-17 has been enhanced from Rs4000 crores to Rs. 7500 crores to speed up the track renewal works in the country. Accordingly, physical targets have also been increased from 1500 km to 2668 km.
There are a total of 840 farmers in Chhattisgarh whose land had been acquired for the Dallirajahara-Rowghat rail line project, the Central government has informed.
It may be recalled that Chhattisgarh government would also be earmarking suitable land banks in the vicinity of Dallirajahara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur Rail Corridor for setting up of small industrial units, officials informed.
Notably, the Steel Authority of India ltd (SAIl) is co-ordinating the construction of Railay line from DaIlirajhara to Rowghat covering a distance of 95 km with Indian Railways in Chhattisgarh.
The project for doubling of Railway line between Kirandul and Jagdalpur in Chhatisgarh’s insurgency ridden Bastar region is expected to be complete by January 2019, official sources informed.