New Delhi: The government today said 340 railway projects, including launch of new rail lines, were pending for want of funds, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Minister of State for Railways, KH Muniyappa. Image courtesy PIB
“As on 1.4.2011, there are 340 ongoing, new line, gauge conversion and doubling projects requiring about Rs 1.25 lakh crore for completion,” Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa said during Question Hour.
He pointed out that the railways had not hiked passenger fares for the past eight years to benefit the common man.
“As a result, the available funds get thinly spread over large number of projects resulting in slow progress as per availability of resources,” Muniyappa said.
He said besides seeking higher gross budgetary support from the Planning Commission, efforts were being made to generate extra budgetary resources through state government participation, public-private partnership.
Muniyappa said the railways planned to increase revenue generation by carrying higher freight and passenger volumes, rationalistation of revenue stream, commercial exploitation of land and control over expenditure.
PTI
