PM to review progress of rail sector next week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will review next week the work done on modernisation and expansion of the railways against the backdrop of his unhappiness over the progress in various projects like laying of some new lines and redevelopment of some stations.
He will chair a meeting here on February 9 during which he will take stock of railways along with other infrastructure related ministries, including roads, shipping and civil aviation.
It will be a follow up of a meeting he had taken in December on these infrastructure ministries, an official said.
During that meeting, the Prime Minister had said that the progress in laying new rail lines was "unsatisfactory" and had directed the Railways to speed up work so that construction season is "optimally utilised".

Modi had noted that other crucial rail projects like construction of three critical coal links and the proposed redevelopement plan for 10 stations was "behind schedule," and needed to be expedited.
"The progress in development of new lines, doubling, gauge conversion and electrification has not been satisfactory. The construction season must be optimally utilised to achieve substantial progress," he had said, according to the minutes of the meeting.

Against the backdrop of those remarks by the Prime Minister, a senior Railway Ministry official said, "We have now prioritised certain projects to complete them without much delay."
These include new lines, doubling and gauge conversion projects which are crucial for capacity enhancement, the official said.

Railways is the thrust area in Modi's developmental agenda and yesterday he urged ADB chief to take up this sector on priority basis for "visible" impact.