The Interim Budget has allocated a significant amount of funds to the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand sections of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NER). UP will receive ₹19,575 crore and Uttarakhand ₹8120 crore. The budget includes funding for doubling the Mankapoor-Katra-Ayodhya Dham rail line, along with plans for increasing the number of...
more...

high-speed Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express trains. Coaches similar to those used on Vande Bharat trains will be added to trains arriving from Bihar, further easing travel. NER is also expected to receive priority in the development of Amrit Bharat stations. Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the doubling of all rail lines leading to Ayodhya is underway. The DPR for the Mankapoor-Ayodhya Dham section of the NER region is already prepared. The budget mentions the construction of three rail corridors: Energy, Minerals, and Cement Corridor, Port Connectivity Corridor, and High Traffic Density Corridor. The NER falls under the high-density corridor category. With the budget's allocation for producing 40,000 Vande Bharat-style coaches, the NER is set to benefit significantly. The NER's General Manager (GM) Soumya Mathur highlighted that trains from various zones pass through the NER, so improvements to train rakes will significantly benefit NER passengers. In terms of infrastructure development in UP and Uttarakhand, the Rail Minister announced that the railway sector received ₹2,02,000 crore in the 2024-25 interim budget, with UP getting ₹19,575 crore and Uttarakhand receiving ₹8,120 crore. Currently, UP constructs 1,978 km of railway track annually, a significant increase compared to the 150-160 km built between 2009-14. All major railway lines in the state have been electrified. The railway has invested ₹98,015 crore in the state, and under the Amrit Station scheme, 157 stations are undergoing development. The state has seen the construction of 1,377 overbridges and underbridges in the last 10 years. In addition, 143 stations have opened stalls under the 'One Station One Product' initiative. The GM of the NER, Soumya Mathur, announced the commencement of the Gorakhpur station reconstruction project. The initial phase involves constructing a new building for the laundry facility. Currently, the work includes soil testing, lab setup, and creating temporary accommodation for workers. The project is expected to accelerate soon. The GM emphasized the importance of quality control in all ongoing projects, including the Cant station, as construction activities can inconvenience passengers. While the Gorakhpur station reconstruction will temporarily inconvenience travelers, it promises future comfort. The public is requested to cooperate during this phase.