Indian Railways receives boost from govt to finance strategic projects

The railways had already used 80 per cent of its budgetary support by mid-March

The Indian Railways received a breather from the Ministry of Finance, as it agreed to pay the principal and interest for Rs 5,000 crore that it raised through Extra-Budgetary Resources (EBR) to finance strategic railway projects in 2018-19. 

Projects in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast or developmental projects that result in greater integration of these regions with the rest of India are considered strategic. Officials confirmed that this will be a one-time arrangement to finance strategic projects and Rs 5,000 crore may be reduced from the revised budgetary support of Rs 53,060 crore for 2018-19. 

The railways had already used 80