India to Prioritise Railway Modernisation in 2025/26 Budget

21 Jan 2025 CW Team

The Indian government is set to significantly increase funding for railway modernisation in the upcoming federal budget while making a modest rise in road infrastructure allocations, according to two government sources.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, which has prioritised infrastructure spending to boost economic growth post-pandemic, is now shifting focus to railways due to challenges in road project execution. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil the 2025/26 budget on February 1.

The railways ministry is expected to receive a budget allocation of Rs 2.9 trillion to Rs 3 trillion, up from Rs 2.55 trillion in the current fiscal year. This increase will support the expansion of Indian Railways' 68,000 km network, the production of 400 high-speed Vande Bharat trains by March 2027, and improvements in rail freight infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the road transport ministry anticipates a 3-4% budget increase, reaching approximately Rs 2.9 trillion. Despite a six-fold rise in road infrastructure spending over the past decade and a 60% expansion of the national road network to 146,000 km, the ministry faces constraints due to land acquisition challenges and spending limits.

Policymakers have raised concerns over the road transport ministry's slower spending pace, with only 54% of its full-year budget utilised by November 2024, compared to 76% by the railways ministry. Delays caused by national and state elections have also impacted road project execution. The ministry is now focusing on raising funds through internal resources to address these challenges.

(ET)

Infrastructure Urban

09 Jan 2026

Mount Invests Rs 250 Cr, Adds PUF & PEB Plants, 400+ Jobs

TUMKUR, Karnataka, January 8, 2025 - Mount Roofing & Structures Private Limited, one of India's fastest-growing manufacturers in PUF and a leading solutions provider across Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) and Polycarbonate sheets, simultaneously inaugurated its second fully automated continuous Sandwich Panel manufacturing line and a new PEB manufacturing plant at its integrated campus in Tumkur." The milestone expansion, part of a total investment of INR 250 crores, marks a significant advancement in the company's commitment to engineered performance, manu..

Titan Intech Strengthens UltraLED Push With Global LED Veteran

Titan Intech has announced the induction of global LED industry veteran Su Piow Ko to its Board of Directors, marking a strategic step in strengthening its UltraLED Displays roadmap and building globally competitive LED display solutions from India.The appointment aligns with Titan Intech’s ambition to position India as a hub for advanced, high-quality LED display manufacturing. With an increased focus on UltraLED Displays, the company aims to enhance technical governance, raise manufacturing standards and expand its presence across global markets.Su Piow Ko brings over three decades of inte..

Dun & Bradstreet Flags New Growth Engines in India 2026 Outlook

Dun & Bradstreet has released its India 2026: D&B’s Perspective report, projecting a stable macroeconomic environment underpinned by fresh opportunities for productivity-led and inclusive growth. The report outlines how India’s next growth phase will be driven by digitised logistics, trusted data ecosystems, clean energy and rising city vitality.According to the outlook, India’s GDP growth is expected to reach around 6.6 per cent by FY2027, supported by resilient consumer demand and sustained public investment. Manufacturing is seen entering a new phase, moving beyond scale towar..