Railways fast-tracks project implementation

India Railways on Friday said that it has hastened implementation of its infrastructure creation projects by incorporating new measures.

The projects pertain to doubling of tracks, erection of new lines and gauge conversion that were announced in the Railway Budget for 2015-16.

According to the statement by the railways, the projects were included primarily to create additional carrying capacity.

Maintaining that fast-tracking of these projects was need of the hour, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that a number of measures have been undertaken for expeditious execution of these projects.

The ministry cited that under the new measures it had asked zonal railways to carry out final location survey immediately, after a particular project had been announced in the railway budget.

"After final location survey, the zonal railways were asked to send detailed project report (DPR) to railway board with a reasonably firm cost," the ministry said in a release.

"Out of 77 doubling projects sanctioned in this year, detailed project reports of 73 doubling projects has been prepared and received in Railway Board."

The ministry elaborated that other measures like formation of committees to examine DPRs have also been initiated.

"Power for accepting all tenders have now been delegated to zonal railways which results into overcoming delays on this account," the ministry said.