'Translate railway policy for benefit of people'

Reviewing the roads sector, the PM said road-links between India and Nepal should be repaired at the earliest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday directed all efforts be made to translate the positive policy interventions and global interest in the railway sector for the benefit of people.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the connectivity-related sectors of infrastructure, Modi said there was global interest in the railway sector. He placed high priority on the progress of the railways sector, which, he said, had the largest potential to positively impact the lives of the people in the country. He said within the railway sector, top priority should be given to the areas of railway station development, gauge conversion, electrification and doubling of railway tracks.

He inquired about the progress on issues such as skill development in the railway sector, and dedicated universities for the sector. He inquired about the status of the Patna and Munger railway bridges in Bihar.

Reviewing the roads sector, the prime minister said road-links between India and Nepal should be repaired at the earliest. He also re-emphasised the importance of port-led development and island development.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Suresh Prabhu and Ashok Gajapati Raju were present at the meeting. Senior officers from the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog and various infrastructure ministries were also present.