On February 1, the Budget for 2019-20, which will be presented in the Lok Sabha. It is expected to unveil measures for modernisation of the Railways, steps will be taken up for boosting infrastructure and additional allocation for safety related issues.
This will be the last budget of the Modi government before the Lok Sabha polls, may be some new trains could be announced, sourced said.
It is also expected that this budget will announce some steps to make train tickets cheaper and improve infrastructure facilities in key areas like track renewal, electrification and doubling.
Sources indicate that modernisation of more railway stations and better infrastructure facilities could be considered on priority basis in this budget.
Recently an announcement done by the Railway Minister that four lakh jobs will be provide in the next two years, which will for the first time include 10 percent reservation to Economically Weaker segment among the General category under Railways.
It is expected that Railways will speed up its work on Bridge Management System which is yet to be commissioned even after a lapse of 11 years as highlighted in a Parliamentary Committee report tabled in Parliament.
During 2018, With a view to preventing accidents and strengthening safety in trains, four safety drives on all Zonal Railways had been launched by the railways.
As a result of relentless efforts put in by Railways, in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year, consequential train accidents decreased from 104 to 73 during 2017-18.
On April 13, 2018, all Zonal Railways were advised to launch a one month safety drive particularly focusing on strict observance of shunting practices with compliance of rules/instructions contained in G&SR.
On October 16, 2018, zonal Railways were advised to launch a special safety drive for a period of fifteen days with special emphasis on safety of work sites, stacking and handling of railway material near track and maintenance of points and crossings.
'Vande Bharat Express' the brand new Train 18, by Mr Goyal, is a 'train with a brain' built from the scratch by Integral Coach Factory at a cost which is said to be half the price of a similar imported passenger train.
The most modern train set has been built at a cost of Rs 100 crore and the Railways has expressed its desire to present it in the international arena, sources in the Railways said.
It may represent Indian Railways' modern and affordable technology abroad because of which it could come up with such a milestone at ICF near Chennai.
The year 2018 saw improved sleepers and fittings. In order to strengthen track structure, a wider and heavier sleeper has been developed in 2014 which is fit for 25 t axle load at 100 kmph.
After successful field trial over five Zonal Railways wider and heavier sleeper has been adopted and approved for full use from FY 2019-20.