16% of the existing rail network carries 60% of total traffic
Prabhu added that a signalling system of very high value was being prepared to tackle punctuality issues (Representational Image)
Around 16 percent of the existing railway network carries nearly 60 percent of traffic, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said in the Lok Sabha today.
Prabhu added that a signalling system of a “very high value” was being prepared to ensure that trains are able to run on time going forward.
Responding to a query as to why Rajdhani and Duronto trains are getting delayed, Prabhu said a major reason for train delays is heavy congestion as there has been a significant increase in traffic compared to the railway infrastructure.
Assuring that work is being done to address the issues, he said punctuality is being handled every day.
“Some networks are operating at 160 percent to 170 percent of the capacity,” he said, adding that doubling and tripling of 16,500 kilometres of rail network has been sanctioned.
“Age-old problems with which the railway was suffering and which have caused serious challenge to run the trains on time today will be properly addressed,” he said during Question Hour.
The minister said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project has been sanctioned for implementation with technical and financial assistance of the Japanese government.
“Procurement of high speed rolling stock is an integral part of the project that envisages promoting ‘Make-in-India’ of high speed rolling stock in a phased manner,” he added.
Around 85 percent of the funding for the project would come from the Japanese and that too on “very soft terms”, he claimed, adding that it was the best deal under the Overseas Development Assistance.
With agency inputs
