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Rlys to close 21 loss-making branch lines

The Railways on Tuesday pegged its losses on account of the uneconomic branch lines at Rs 4.49 billion, saying 21 such lines will be dismantled.

According to the Rail Budget presented in the Parliament on Tuesday, the review of branch lines in 2000-01 showed that 115 including 49 broad guage, 44 metre guage and 22 narrow guage were uneconomical and the Railways incurred a loss of about Rs 4.49 billion excluding dividend on their account.

Instructions have now been issued for closure or dismantling of 21 such lines on the basis of the recommendations of a Railways reforms committee.

The committee in its report had recommended closure of 40 such lines where adequate alternative road infrastructure was available and 17 lines in Gujarat where such alternative infrastructure could be developed.

Now 15 of these 40 lines and four out of 17 were being dismantled apart from two more lines elsewhere.

Branch lines include all narrow guage ones and those of the broad guage and metre guage that join the main line network at only one end.

For the remaining 38 lines, Railways was ready to offer one time assistance to subsidise the procurement of additional buses that will be required once these rail sections close, provided of course the state governments agree for their permanent closure.

The committee also offered, on a one-time basis, financial assistance for development of road infrastructure in these areas.

PTI

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