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States need to contribute for better connectivity

Special Correspondent

Railways is facing resource crunch: Velu

Minister of State for Railways R. Velu

NEW DELHI: States seeking better rail connectivity and amenities may soon be required to pool in resources to fund projects in their regions, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu indicated on Monday.

"Since the Railways is facing a resource crunch and demands from State Governments for better rail facilities are ever increasing, we must explore the possibilities ... of their sharing the cost of such projects."

He was inaugurating a two-day conference of chief electrical engineers (Railways) here.

Mr. Velu urged States which had surplus power to supply electricity at cheap rates to the Railways.

It should "plan" projects taking into account resources available in different regions.

Electric traction accounted for more than 65 per cent of freight traffic and 50 per cent of passenger traffic.

His Ministry was looking at improving the availability of electric locomotives by 10 per cent over the target for 2005-06 — to help in achieving "Mission 700 MT" freight loading.

The Railways had taken up electrification of the entire rail network. All routes on the Golden Quadrilateral and its diagonals had been electrified except part of the Kolkata-Chennai and Mumbai-Chennai sections.

Electrification of the Chennai-Kolkata section was at an advanced stage of completion. Work on the Renigunta-Guntakal section on the Mumbai-Chennai route was sanctioned.

Electrification of the Pune-Wadi-Guntakal was being considered under the National Rail Vikas Yojana.

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