Railway Budget 2020: More Tejas-type trains, bullet train by 2023, Kisan rail and other key facts

Enlisting the achievements of the Indian Railways within 100 days of assumption of the current government, the Finance Minister proposed the following five measures for optimisation of costs: Setting up a large solar power capacity alongside the rail tracks, on the land owned by the railways;   Four station re-development projects and operation of 150 passenger trains would be done through PPP model; More Tejas type trains will connect iconic tourist destinations; High-speed train between Mumbai to Ahmedabad would be actively pursued; 148-km long Bengaluru Suburban transport project at a cost of Rs 18600 crore, would have fares on metro model.

Central Government would provide 20% of equity and facilitate external assistance up to 60% of the project cost, the FM said. With an aim to build a seamless national cold supply chain for ‘perishables’, the Finance Minister also proposed that the Indian Railways will set up a “Krishi Rail”- through PPP arrangements.

There will be refrigerated coaches in the express and Freight trains as well she said.

Sitharaman on Saturday said that the work on Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s ambitious 508-km Ahmedabad-Mumbai High-Speed train project will be actively pursued.

Presenting the Union Budget 2020-21 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, “After coming to power in May within 100 days railways has eliminated unmanned level crossings, commissioned WiFi at 550 stations, and aims to achieve electrification of 27,000 kms of tracks for optimisation of cost.”
She said that railways have a small operating surplus. “About Indian Railways, there are five measures that I wish to highlight. Setting up a large solar power capacity alongside the rail tracks on the land owned by railways. A proposal is under consideration,” she said.

The national transporter also has planned to tap solar power to lower its expenses. The railways plan to become self-sufficient in solar power by 2030.

“Four station redevelopment projects and operation of 150 passenger trains would be done through the PPP model. The process of inviting private participation is underway,” the Minister said. The railways have already invited private companies to bid for the project.