Allocation of Rs 70,000 crore for railway capital expenditure of 1.61 lakh crore allowed

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. February 1, 2020, Saturday

70,000 crore has been allocated for the Railways in the Budget 2020-21. 1.61 lakh crore has been allocated for capital expenditure. 3 per cent more than last year.

1.56 lakh crore for capital expenditure in the financial year 2019-20. Which was 17.2% higher than the amount of capital expenditure allocated in FY 2018-19.

The target of railway revenue from sources including passenger, goods, is set at 9.5 percent higher in the Budget Estimate of FY 2020-21 than in the Revised Estimates of FY 2019-20.

A budget of Rs 12,000 crore has been allocated for the construction of the new line in the Budget for the financial year 2020-21. Rs 2250 crore for gauge conversion, Rs 700 crore for dubbing, Rs 5786 crore for rolling stock, Rs 1650 crore for signaling and telecom.

2725 crore has been allotted for Railway Passenger Comfort. Passenger revenues are projected to be Rs 61,000 crore in Fiscal 2020-21 and goods revenue at Rs 1,47,000 crore.

This time the budget also proposes to construct a huge solar power capacity in the railway-owned space beside the railway track.

The Finance Minister has also proposed a 148 km long Bengaluru Suburban Transport Project at a cost of Rs 18600 crore. It is estimated to cost Rs 92,993 crore in salary for the financial year 2020-21.