Indian Railways has decided to award the contract for construction of 14 overbridges and underbridges in Jharkhand at a cost of Rs 163 crore to Konkan Railway.
The minister of state for railways Bangaru Dattatreya said all the bridges would be constructed within two years for which the Railways and the Jharkhand government would share the cost at Rs 78.8 crore and Rs 84.2 crore respectively.
Railways had taken up six projects costing Rs 2093 crore for extension of rail links and conversion of narrow gauge to broad gauge in Jharkhand. The projects would be completed by 2007 and the Jharkhand government would provide Rs 1395 crore for them.
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The minister said non-availability of land from the state government was holding up the execution of the railway projects in Jharkhand. He said not even 25 per cent of the total land required for the six projects of Jharkhand was handed over to Railways by the state government.
He met Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi to urge speedy action for handover of land. The railway minister said after completion of these projects, transportation of minerals from Jharkhand would be easier. Railways would be able to earn substantial revenue from freight as well.
Railways would be working to improve rail safety and security. The minister said the Prime Minister was concerned about the level of safety and in response, a sum of Rs 1,700 crore had been allocated for railway safety projects.
The minister said in order to improve passenger amenities, a sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been set aside. A total 8018 railway stations in the country would be improved, of which 298 railway stations had been identified as model railway stations.