The Railways have
taken a number of initiatives recently in funding of projects.
These include participation of the state Governments in the
suburban transport projects at Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and
Kolkata in addition to their participation in new line, gauge
conversion and other rail projects. Governments of Tamilnadu,
Jharkhand, Gujarat and Karnataka have agreed to share the cost
of some of these projects.
The cost of projects
undertaken on strategic consideration involving Kolayat-Phalodi
new line and Luni-Barmer-Munabao gauge conversion – is now borne
by the Ministry of Defence.
Some of the new
projects are being undertaken with public-private participation.
Broad gauge connectivity to the new port of Pipavav is being
provided through a joint venture between Indian Railways and
Piapavav Port Authority. In the case of Mundra Port in Gujarat,
the Port Authority is bearing the cost of broad gauge railway
line.
A joint venture
with the Government of Karnataka to fund four identified projects
under K-RIDE is under formation.
The Jammu and Kashmir
National Project linking Jammu with Baramullah is now being
funded by General Exchequer outside Railways’ Plan.
