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Railroads: Indian Railways
Railroads: Indian Railways
During the first month of the 2010-11 fiscal, the Railways reported an increase of 9.69 per cent
in its total earnings at US$ 1.62 billion, as compared to US$ 1.5 billion in the same month last
fiscal. The Railways garnered US$ 459 million in total passenger earnings in April 2010,
compared to US$ 411.6 million in April 2009.
According to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the foreign direct
investment (FDI) inflow into railways related components has been US$ 109.56 million from
April 2000 to March 2010
Indian Railways
is the second largest system in the world under a single management, with an extensive network
of 62,725 kilometers, 21.5 percent of which is electrified. Indian Railways operates an extensive
network. It ranks second in the world (after China) in terms of freight intensity, track to land ratio,
wagons to track ratios, passengers and cargo. Freight traffic carried in IFY 1997-98 was 430
million tons, up 5.5 percent over the previous year. The target
for IFY 1998-99 is 450 million tons and an annual growth rate of 7.4 percent has been projected
for the next five years. Indian Railways has launched a program to reduce terminal delays and
turn around time of its rolling stock. The program aims at increasing freight carrying capacity by
50 percent through continual usage of wagons. Indian Railways is also soliciting private sector
participation in freight movement through a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) scheme and a
Own-Your-Wagon-Scheme (OYWS).
the country
1 lakh km of track
Under the Eleventh Five Year Plan of India(2007–2012), Ministry of Railways is constructing a
new Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) covering about 2762 route km long two routes - the
Eastern Corridor from Ludhiana to Sone Nagar and the Western Corridor from Jawaharlal Nehru
Port at Nhava Sheva, Mumbai to Tughlakabad/Dadri along with interlinking of two corridors at
Dadri. Upgrading of transportation technology, increase in productivity and reduction in unit
transportation cost are the focus areas for the project.[33] According to initial estimates, the
project would cost 20,500 crore (US$ 4.7 billion).[34]
Problems
*Only 10,419 km has been added since 63 years of independence with 180 km as annual growth.
Projects
Construction of a new Railway Line to Kashmir valley in most difficult terrain at a cost of US$ 1.5 Billion
and expansion of rail network in Mumbai area at a cost of US$900 million has also been taken up.
Freight traffic is growing at close to 10% and passenger traffic at close to 8% annually. Railways have
planned a dedicated rail freight corridor running along the railways Golden Quadrilateral (GQ). The
double-line freight corridor is expected to evolve systematic and efficient freight movement
mechanisms and ease congestion along the existing GQ. It would leave the existing GQ free for
passenger trains. The 9260 km dedicated freight corridor to be built at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore (US$ 15
billion) is being funded partially with a US$ 5 billion loan from Japan. The work is expected to be
completed within the next 5–7 years. The first phase of the project would include the Delhi–Howrah and
the Delhi–Mumbai routes.