Railways Capex for 2020-21 pegged at all time high

07 Feb 2020 CW Staff

Five measures relating to the Railways have been highlighted in the Union Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman:

1. Setting up a large solar power capacity alongside the rail tracks, on the land owned by the railways. A proposal is under consideration.

2. Four station re-development projects and operation of 150 passenger trains would be done through PPP mode. The process of inviting private participation is underway.

3. More Tejas type trains will connect iconic tourist destinations.

4. High speed train between Mumbai to Ahmedabad would be actively pursued.

5. The 148-km-long Bengaluru Suburban transport project at a cost of Rs 186 billion would have fares on metro model. The Centre would provide 20 per cent of equity and facilitate external assistance up to 60 per cent of the project cost.

Further, the target of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling/tripling for 2020-21 is 3,750 route km against 3,150 route km in 2019-20. Electrification of the entire broad gauge network is expected to be completed by 2023-24. In 2020-21, electrification of 6,000 route km has been targeted.

As per the Budget, the Railways also plans to induct latest technology for signalling and telecommunication system. Under modernisation plan of Railway signaling system, it has been decided to implement Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) system on Indian Railways. This will increase operational efficiency. In the first phase, CTC will be implemented on 1,830 km over eight Zonal Railways on sections provided with Automatic Block Signalling system. Further, in the second phase, CTC will be implemented over the balance eight zonal railways, along with Automatic Block Signalling system. The government has initiated the upgradation of the decades-old signalling system into an Automatic Train Protection System, which will be a mix of proven international technology as well as indigenously developed systems with an impetus to Make in India.

The Capex of Indian Railways for 2020-21 has been pegged at an all time high of Rs 1,610.42 billion. The emphasis is on continued capacity enhancement through accelerated investments and execution. The Capex for 2019-20 is Rs 1,563.52 billion, which is 17.2 per cent higher than the previous year. The government has increased investment and introduced modern technology while focusing on safety, speed and service to passengers.Five measures relating to the Railways have been highlighted in the Union Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman:1. Setting up a large solar power capacity alongside the rail tracks, on the land owned by the railways. A proposal is under consideration.2. Four station re-development projects and operation of 150 passenger trains would be done through PPP mode. The process of inviting private participation is underway.3. More Tejas type trains will connect iconic tourist destinations.4. High speed train between Mumbai to Ahmedabad would be actively pursued.5. The 148-km-long Bengaluru Suburban transport project at a cost of Rs 186 billion would have fares on metro model. The Centre would provide 20 per cent of equity and facilitate external assistance up to 60 per cent of the project cost.Further, the target of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling/tripling for 2020-21 is 3,750 route km against 3,150 route km in 2019-20. Electrification of the entire broad gauge network is expected to be completed by 2023-24. In 2020-21, electrification of 6,000 route km has been targeted. As per the Budget, the Railways also plans to induct latest technology for signalling and telecommunication system. Under modernisation plan of Railway signaling system, it has been decided to implement Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) system on Indian Railways. This will increase operational efficiency. In the first phase, CTC will be implemented on 1,830 km over eight Zonal Railways on sections provided with Automatic Block Signalling system. Further, in the second phase, CTC will be implemented over the balance eight zonal railways, along with Automatic Block Signalling system. The government has initiated the upgradation of the decades-old signalling system into an Automatic Train Protection System, which will be a mix of proven international technology as well as indigenously developed systems with an impetus to Make in India.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..