Rail Budget: Dedicated freight corridors to get attention

Pitching for expansion of rail infrastructure, railway minister Dinesh Trivedi may allocate significant funds while presenting the Rail Budget on Wednesday for Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) to expedite its execution.

Pitching for expansion of rail infrastructure, railway minister Dinesh Trivedi may allocate significant funds while presenting the Rail Budget on Wednesday for Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) to expedite its execution.

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The ambitious Rs one lakh crore project had recently got a big push with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directing central departments and states to give the project "highest priority."

At a high-level meeting held recently, it was decided that state governments would set up monitoring committees to resolve the issues especially land-acquisition in an expeditious manner so that the project is completed by the projected deadline of 2017.

The 3,300-km long project, which will criss-cross various states, shall transform India's economic transport facility.

Railways aims to shift a major portion of road transport to rail once the DFC connecting Delhi to Mumbai and Ludhiana to Dankuni in West Bengal becomes operational.

According to railway sources, the focus of the budget would be more towards automation and strengthening the existing infrastructure.

The Rail Budget could also announce about 80 new trains, including the popular Duronto class of trains.

Trivedi is likely to announce transforming more stations as Adarsh stations which will provide better facilities for passengers.