OREANDA-NEWS. March 14, 2012. Railway Minister Shri Dinesh Trivedi had wide-ranging consultations before finalising the Railway Budget.  He  had consulted Chief Ministers and Members of Parliament and had  detailed discussions with various Committees of Parliament, Railway Staff Federations, Chambers of Commerce & Industry and many other stakeholders.  While presenting this year’s Railway Budget in Parliament today, Shri Trivedi said that he made efforts to seek the views of the media and general public through industrious consultation process. 

The Railway Minister announced  several new projects to be taken up in cooperation with State Governments in this year’s Railway Budget.

 The following four projects will be taken up on cost sharing basis:

(a)  Rohtak-Hansi via Meham (Cost Sharing by Haryana Govt.)

(b)  Akkanapet-Medak (Cost Sharing by Andhra Pradesh Govt.)

(c)  Bhadrachalam-Kovvur (Cost Sharing by Andhra Pradesh Govt.)

(d)  Rajabhatkhowa-Jainti (Cost Sharing by West Bengal Govt.)

Railways in partnership with Government of Chhattisgarh and user industries in the region will develop three rail corridors in the northern part of the state for movement of passenger  and freight traffic with the active participation of  all stakeholders. 

In view of the discovery of considerable oil and gas reserves and development of a deep water port and SEZ at Kakinada, rail connectivity is now being provided from Pithapuram to Kakinada on Cost Sharing basis with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. 

State Governments  have come forward to share cost of some more projects in their states.  Those include Governments of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.  These projects will be given special attention and processed on priority for obtaining requisite clearances.