Railway Connectivity Projects
Railway Connectivity Projects
Overview
Railway Connectivity Projects are Indian Railways’ mega-infrastructure drives aimed at linking unconnected state capitals, major ports, religious & industrial hubs, border/NE areas and doubling/tripling saturated trunk routes. They are financed through Extra-Budgetary Resources (IRFC), Gross Budgetary Support, PPP, JVs with state governments and cost-sharing with ministries like Coal, Steel & Defence. Key umbrellas: Mission 2024 (Capitals & Ports), PM-Gati Shakki, Bharatmala & Amrit Bharat Stations.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Total length of Indian Railways (31 Mar 2024) |
| 2 | Running track-km (2024) |
| 3 | Stations in network |
| 4 | States/UTs still not connected by BG rail |
| 5 | New Line projects sanctioned 2014-24 |
| 6 | Doubling projects sanctioned 2014-24 |
| 7 | Gauge-conversion pending (Mar 2024) |
| 8 | Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (USBRL) cost |
| 9 | Chenab bridge (USBRL) height & length |
| 10 | Bogibeel bridge (Assam) length |
| 11 | Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) total length |
| 12 | Electrified network (Mar 2024) |
| 13 | Average speed of Goods train (2023-24) |
| 14 | Kavach (Train-Collision avoidance) sanctioned |
| 15 | Amrit Bharat Station count |
| 16 | PM-Gati Shakti Multi-modal cargo terminals |
| 17 | RailWire Wi-Fi enabled stations |
| 18 | Station categorisation for viability |
| 19 | Highest railway bridge (world) |
| 20 | Longest tunnel of Indian Railways |
Important Points
- Mission Antyodaya – 100 % rail connectivity to aspirational districts by 2025.
- Bharatmala Pariyojana synergy – 66 rail-road parallel projects worth ₹2.3 lakh cr.
- PM-Gati Shakti 7 engines – Railways, Roads, Ports, Air, Mass-Transit, Waterways, Logistics infra.
- Station redevelopment follows PPP & EPC mode; 50-year concession; no OFS land cost.
- DFC augments 45 % national freight share; expected to raise average goods speed to 70 km/h.
- USBRL made Kashmir accessible in all weather; 27 bridges & 37 tunnels (48 % alignment underground).
- Electrification saves ₹18,000 cr/yr in diesel bill; IR targets Net-Zero by 2030.
- NFR’s Chicken Neck area (Siliguri corridor) triple-line sanctioned under critical connectivity.
- Port connectivity – 15 Major ports linked to DFC; last mile to Paradip, Deendayal, Tuticorin underway.
- NE special package – ₹74,000 cr outlay; 20 line projects, 13 new BG lines since 2014.
- RORO & Roll-on ferry services started on Digha-Jaleswar & Ghoga-Dahej to bypass congested routes.
- Kavach is SIL-4 certified; manufactured by 3 firms – HBL, Kernex, Medha.
- Gati Shakti cargo terminals allow private siding owners 25-year lease & 50 % freight rebate first 5 yrs.
- Amrit Bharat stations retain heritage façade; concourse redeveloped to 24×7 airport-like plaza.
- RailTel provides OFC redundancy along 62,000 Rkm; enables 5G readiness & Kavach backhaul.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Which two states are yet to get BG rail connectivity? – Meghalaya & Mizoram.
- World’s highest rail bridge located on which river? – Chenab (J&K).
- Total length & two corridors of DFC. – 2,843 km (EDFC, WDFC).
- Financing pattern of USBRL project. – 90 % Central share + 10 % J&K UT.
- Target year for 100 % electrification of IR network. – December 2024.
BETA
