Draft for National Rail Plan Released

The Government has released a Draft Final Report of the National Rail Plan

Highlights:

♦ The National Railway Plan aims to provide long-term planning for the expansion of the railway network.

♦ NRP's vision is to develop capacity, infrastructure and increase the share of rail freight before demand, and to develop capacity by 2030 to accommodate growth in demand until 2050.

♦ The National Rail Plan for India 2030 will create a future-oriented railway system and reduce the logistics costs required by the industry to enable Make in India.

♦ The Minister of Finance specified in the 2021-22 budget that a record ₹1,10,055 crore has been provided to the Railways, of which ₹1,07,100 crore has been allocated for capital expenditure.

♦ In addition, the railways will also be monetized through dedicated freight corridors.

♦ Special freight corridors in the west and east will also be put into use.

♦ The Somnagar Gomu part of the Eastern Dedicated Corridor will also be used this year.

♦ The railway's high-density network and high-utilization network routes will be equipped with train protection systems to eliminate train collisions caused by human error.

♦ The railway will also introduce aesthetically designed vista dome LHB coaches on the tourist routes to bring passengers a better travel experience.