Indian Railways is poised for significant infrastructure development in the fiscal year 2024-25, with plans to lay 5,500 km of new tracks.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the national transporter’s network, which includes station redevelopment, the launch of semi-high-speed trains, the construction of high-speed train routes, track doubling, and the implementation of the indigenous safety system, Kavach.
In the financial year 2024-25, the government has allocated a substantial budgetary fund of Rs 2.52 lakh crore to Indian Railways, marking an increase from the previous fiscal’s capital outlay of Rs 2.4 lakh crore. This funding boost underscores the government’s commitment to expanding the railway network to the remotest corners of the country. Reflecting on the past decade, the construction of new railway tracks has seen a notable increase. From 2004 to 2014, Indian Railways completed 14,985 Route Kilometres (RKM) of rail track. In contrast, between FY 2014-2024, a total of 27,057.7 km was laid, encompassing new lines, doubling and tripling of existing lines, and gauge conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge.
However, an RTI application revealed a more nuanced picture of the track-laying pace over the past decade. According to data, the railways have laid an average of 7.41 km of new tracks per day. Madhya Pradesh-based Chandra Shekhar Gaur, who filed the RTI application, noted that new line construction has been relatively slow, with 4,838.47 km of new lines laid at an average rate of 1.32 km per day over the last ten years. Despite these figures, the fiscal year 2022-23 marked a significant achievement for Indian Railways, recording the highest track-laying rate in a single year. During this period, 3,901 km of total tracks were laid, including 473 km of new lines, 3,185.53 km of track doubling, and 242.2 km of gauge conversion. This accomplishment translates to an average of 10.68 km of tracks laid per day.
In the current fiscal year 2023-24, Indian Railways has continued its robust track-laying efforts, adding 2,966 km of tracks so far, averaging 8.12 km per day. This consistent progress highlights the national transporter’s dedication to expanding its network and improving connectivity across the country. Indian Railways’ ambitious plan to lay 5,500 km of new tracks in FY 2024-25 signifies a crucial step towards modernising India’s railway infrastructure. This extensive track expansion aims to enhance connectivity, boost economic growth, and ensure efficient transportation across the nation.
