What are the 237 Railways Projects Worth Rs 1,90,333 Crore Sanctioned in Less Than 4 Years?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 237 railway projects sanctioned, worth Rs 1,90,333 crore.
- Projects include 40 new lines, 17 gauge conversions, and 180 doubling.
- Total length of the projects is 9,703 kilometers.
- Focus on enhancing passenger experience through modern trains.
- Implementation of Kavach for improved train safety.
New Delhi, July 23 (NationPress) A remarkable total of 237 railway projects (including 40 new lines, 17 gauge conversions, and 180 doubling) spanning a total of 9,703 kilometers and amounting to approximately Rs 1,90,333 crore have been approved across Indian Railways in the previous three fiscal years and the current financial year (FY26), the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared with the Lok Sabha, through a written response, that over the past three years (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25) and the ongoing FY26, a total of 892 surveys (comprising 267 new lines, 11 gauge conversions, and 614 doubling) covering a total length of 61,462 kilometers have been sanctioned.
In comparison, from 2009 to 2014, only 7,599 kilometers of tracks were commissioned (averaging 4.2 km per day), while 34,428 kilometers of tracks were sanctioned (averaging 8.57 km per day) from 2014 to 2025.
According to the minister, the comprehensive planning of railway projects under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan along with improved coordination among stakeholders has accelerated the sanctioning of services, projects, and the speed of laying/commissioning new tracks.
The PM Gati Shakti institutional mechanism has been extensively utilized for conducting ground surveys, maintaining land records, aligning routes, thereby enhancing the quality of the Detailed Project Report preparation and reducing project costs.
The Indian Railways has initiated the Amrit Bharat Station scheme, which aims to provide world-class amenities for passengers and enhance operational efficiency at railway stations. To date, 1,337 stations have been earmarked for redevelopment under this scheme, as reported by the minister.
To enrich passenger experience and ensure a comfortable journey, state-of-the-art Vande Bharat trains, Amrit Bharat Trains, and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail with modern features have been introduced within Indian Railways.
“To bolster safety in train operations, Kavach has been developed as a National Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system on Indian Railways. The implementation of Kavach is being carried out in a mission mode,” the minister remarked.
To further enhance the safety of train operations and road users, all unmanned level crossings on broad gauge have been eliminated, with a phased plan to replace all manned level crossings through the construction of Roberts (RoBs) and Rail Under Bridges (RUBs), he added.