Mamata's Vision 2020: Trains at 200 kmph, zero mishap rate

Massive addition to its route network, segregation of passenger and freight services into separate double-line corridors, raising the speeds of passenger trains from the current 130 kmph to 160-200 kmph on some routes, zero accidents and equipment failures and setting up of four high-speed passenger corridor are some of the key goals the Indian Railways would try to achieve by the year 2020, as per the 'Indian Railways Vision 2020' document tabled in Parliament by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday.

"The Vision 2020" envisages the Indian Railways to expand its route network at the rate of 2,500 km annually in order to be able to add 25,000 km of new lines (including 11,985 km of pending new line projects) by 2020. Similarly, the Vision sets a target of 12,000 km each for doubling and gauge conversion and another 14,000 km for electrification of lines.

Realising the ever-increasing requirement of rolling stock, the document sets targets of procuring 2.8 lakh wagons, 5,334 diesel locomotives, 4,281 locomotives, and 50,880 passenger coaches by the year 2020. It also states that the Railways should target setting up 50 world-class stations and 2,000-km-long high-speed corridors by 2020.

Estimating the requirement of Rs 14 lakh crore over the next 10 years for capacity creation, network expansion and upgradation, the document also bats for the setting up of Accelerated Rail Development Fund (ARDF) with budgetary commitment to the tune of approximately Rs 5,00,000 crore, spread over next 10 years. "An amount of around Rs 1,00,000 crore of the ADRF could be set aside to clear the pending backlog of socially desirable New Lines and Gauge Conversion projects as a one-time outright grant," the Vision states.