Finance Minister Reviews Railway Capex Plan, Urges Swift Implementation of Safety Initiatives

Finance Minister Reviews Railway Capex Plan, Urges Swift Implementation of Safety Initiatives

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman conducted a review meeting on Tuesday regarding the capital expenditure (capex) plan of the Ministry of Railways, emphasizing the need to prioritize commuter safety and convenience.

During the meeting, Sitharaman directed officials to expedite the rollout of the Kavach system, India’s homegrown Automatic Train Protection (ATP) technology, advocating for its phased implementation to meet the designated capex targets within the specified timelines. Ministry officials reported that work on the Kavach system is currently underway across more than 3,000 route kilometers, particularly on the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai corridors.

Highlighting the government's commitment to enhancing the quality of life for citizens, Sitharaman urged the Ministry to focus on increasing capacity, improving safety, and enhancing the overall passenger experience. This includes initiatives such as doubling and electrifying existing railway lines and constructing new tracks in line with the capex outlined in the Union Budget.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister called for the swift conversion of 40,000 standard railway coaches to meet Vande Bharat standards, a move announced in the Interim Budget for 2024-25, aimed at bolstering passenger safety and comfort.

Sitharaman stressed the importance of achieving the capex targets for the fiscal year 2024-25 in a timely manner, encouraging officials to build on the momentum established during the initial 100 days of the government’s tenure.

This meeting forms part of a series of reviews being conducted across various ministries and departments with substantial capex allocations in the Union Budget, underscoring the government's focus on infrastructure development and public service enhancement.