Despite cash crunch, substantial funds are likely to be

announced in the Rail Budget 2013-14 for long pending projects. Currently, there are about 347 rail projects worth Rs 1.47 lakh crores pending and railways is planning to complete some of these works in the next fiscal. "Certain pending projects involving laying of new lines as last-mile connectivity are being identified and we want to complete them," they said. Burdened with increased diesel cost and a large number of pending projects, railways have sought Rs 38,000 crores as general budgetary support from the Finance Ministry for fiscal 2013-14. Railways had received Rs 24,000 crores from the Finance Ministry as support in the current fiscal. Besides, Railways expect to generate Rs 7000 crores revenue from internal generation and Rs 18,000 crores from market borrowing next financial year. Railways plan to invest Rs 5 lakh crore in capacity addition during the 12 Five-Year Plan (2012-17).