(GIST OF YOJANA) Rail Infrastructure

(October-2023)

Rail Infrastructure

Introduction:

• The first train in India travelled 34 km from Mumbai to Thane in 1853. Since then, in over more than 167 years, Indian Railways (IR) has grown enormously.
• Railway planning has the main objective of developing transport infrastructure to carry the projected quantum of traffic and meet the Indian economy’s developmental needs.
• Nine five year plans (FYPs) have been implemented since 1950-51 by Indian Railways apart from some annual plans.

Central Public Sector Enterprises:

• There are 12 Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Railways.

1. RITES Limited
2. IRCON International Limited
3. Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) Limited
4. Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR)
5. Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL)
6. Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC)
7. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC)
8. Railtel Corporation of India Limited (RCIL)
9. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
10. Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)
11. Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL)
12. Braithwaite and Company Limited (BCL)

• The research and development (R&D) wing of Indian Railways is the Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) at Lucknow.
• It acts as a consultant in technical matters to Indian Railways, and other organisations connected with railway manufacturing and design.

Railway Finance: 

• Owing to the Separation Convention of 1924, a separate railway budget was presented from 1924-25, even though it was part of the overall budget of the Government of India.
• The Railway Budget has been merged with the general Budget from Budget Year 2017-18:
• To present the holistic financial position of the government
• To facilitate multimodal transport planning between highways, railways, and waterways
• Instead of 16 demands for grants, the Union Ministry of Finance has introduced one demand for grants for the Ministry of Railways.

Railway Electrification: 

• Increasing railway electrification under the Ministry of Railways’ Mission 100% Electrification policy will not only help reduce the country’s crude oil imports but also has environmental benefits.
• It increases average speeds, and loadings for both freight and passengers, thereby, providing the opportunity for modernisation.

Rail Tourism: 

• Indian Railways (IR) has introduced the Bharat Gaurav Trains Policy to showcase cultural heritage and historical places of India to both domestic and foreign audiences with the help of tourism sector professionals and other service providers.
• Specialised tourism products are also introduced from time to time in association with IRCTC and states.

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Courtesy: Yojana