The 2016-17 Railway Budget, introduced by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in the lok Sabha on Thursday, will unleash development works totaling Rs 2,235-crore in Jharkhand mostly for the construction of new rail tracks, Road Over Bridges and subways to avoid man-machine conflict and mitigate deaths due to the conflict besides, electrification work of Ranchi-lohardaga-Tori railway line during the course of one-year from the beginning of the approaching financial year.
The outlay for the next financial year has seen a jump of Rs 341 crore from the allocation made for various projects for Jharkhand in the financial year 2015-16. The total outlay in 2015-16 was Rs 1,894 crore.
The Budget proposes construction of three new rail lines, 12 ROBs and five RUB and subways in various parts of the State apart from survey of Dehri-On –Son- Bhawnathpur new rail line. The proposed new tracks include Vikramshila-Katareah line, Chatra-Basukinath line, Godda-Pakur line and is estimated to cost Rs 1,601 crore, Rs 859 crore and Rs 1,723 crore correspondingly to become operational. The Ministry has earmarked Rs 6-lakh for the survey work.
The adage that there is always sunshine after long dark nights might be crossing through the mind of thousands of people thriving in the habitations along the 116-km long Ranch-lohardaga-Tori line as the Railway Minister proposed electrification of the railway track that became known for nothing but lingering on for decades with hopes waning with each passing day.
The Railway Minister on the floor of the lok Sabha announced Rs 102.66-crore worth electrification project of the section of the South Eastern Railway that will improve connectivity and will pave the way for operating more trains in the section for the benefit of the people of Jharkhand.