Indian Railways to Raise Rs 1 lakh crore to upgrade coaches, signals

Indian Railways is evaluating options to raise Rs 1,00,000 crore over the next five years to introduce new coaches, overhaul the signaling system and eliminate level crossings to improve safety of passengers as recommended by a high-level committee, railway minister Dinesh Trivedi said.

The committee, headed by Dr Anil Kakodkar, was formed in September last year after two major railway accidents. It presented the report to the government on Friday. Apart from Kakodkar, the committee included former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, E Sreedharan.

Proposed financing measures include raising Rs 5,000 crore each by imposing safety cess on passengers, grant from central government and deferred dividend payment. Railways are also looking to generate Rs 4,000 crore by utilisation of its land bank.

"Though data of consequential train accident over the years has been declining despite phenomenal growth of traffic, safety issue of Indian railways remains to be a mater of serious concern," said Anil Kakodkar.