Hyderabad / New Delhi, Feb 2 (Agency) Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager of South Central Railway (SCR), announced a historic budget allocation of Rs 14,232.84 crores for the fiscal year 2024-25, a substantial increase from Rs. 13,786.19 crores in 2023-24. The allocation is the highest ever for SCR, emphasizing the commitment to railway infrastructure and development. Speaking at a press conference held at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad, on Friday, Jain highlighted key budgetary allocations and projects for the upcoming year. The Indian Railways, as a whole, received its highest-ever budget outlay of Rs 2,52,000 crores, with a focus on three major economic railway corridor programs: energy, Mineral and Cement Corridors, Port Connectivity Corridors, and High Traffic Density connectivity corridors; and high traffic density corridors.
Key highlights: Doubling project between Bhadrachalam Road – Dornakal (54.65 Kms) – Estimated Cost: Rs. 770.12 crore. Doubling Project between Aurangabad – Ankai (98.25 Kms) – Estimated Cost: Rs. 960.64 crore. Bypass line sanctioned at Latur Road – Estimated Cost: Rs. 46.95 crores. Budget Allocations (Major Heads): New line projects: Rs 1,184.14 crore (44 percent increase from the previous year). Doubling, Third Line, and Bypass Line Works: Rs 2,905.91 crore. Completion of remaining non-electrified sections over SCR: Rs 224.59 crore. Customer amenities: Rs 790 crore. Signal and telecommunications works: Rs. 302.68 crore (74 percent increase from the last year).
Safety-related works include Rs 891.4 crores for road safety works, Rs 1,530 crores for track renewal works, and Rs. 41.94 crores allocated for the implementation of Kavach. State-wise allocation: For Telangana: Rs 5,071 crore (14.7 percent higher than the previous year). For Andhra Pradesh: Rs 9,138 crores (8.7 percent increase from the last year). The budget also includes significant allocations for various projects such as major station upgrades, construction of ROB/RUB on Golden Quadrilateral routes, provision of FOBs and high-level platforms at stations, and development of a railway manufacturing unit at Kazipet, among others. The SCR GM said that the substantial budget reflects the commitment to enhance railway infrastructure and safety across the South Central Railway region.