Cash-strapped Railways have sought an over two-fold increase in gross budgetary support from the Finance Ministry in the coming Rail Budget to tide over its financial crisis and expedite various ongoing projects.
It has asked for Rs 39,600 crore (Rs 396 billion) as gross budgetary support against the Rs 15,875 crore (Rs 158.75 billion) it got in the last Budget.
"We have sought Rs 39,600 crore this time as gross budgetary support to carry forward various projects, including expansion and modernisation of railway infrastructure and augmenting passenger services," said a senior Railway Ministry official.
Railways internal resources generation has been reduced due to various factors, including cost escalation and pay commission load.
Railways aims to increase the production of coaches, wagons and locos keeping acute shortfall in passenger coaches and increased demand for new trains and freight services. About 3,500 coaches were manufactured in 2009-10 which increased to 3700 in 2010-11.
"Our target will be to manufacture about 4000 coaches in 2011-12. In wagon manufacturing, the target is to roll out 18,000 and about 500
locomotives in the next fiscal," said the official.
The Budget will also lays stress on improving safety and security of passengers like improvement in signalling system, installation safety related technology like Anti-collision devices and train protection warning system.
New targets would be set for gauge conversion and doubling of tracks.
Keeping the vision document in mind, which among other things proposes laying of 1000 km of rail track for the next ten years, railways could earmark more funds to meet the target.