The Hindu : Projects to improve rail connectivity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

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National

Projects to improve rail connectivity

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 12. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the States that fall below the national average of railway route though there is a scope for providing more new route lines.

The national average of railway route kilometres per 1000 square kms of area is 19.22 as on March 31, 2002. Practically it is not possible for all the States to be brought at a par with the national average and as such there is no policy to bring all the States at a par in terms of route length per 1000 kms.

However, new lines projects are in progress in various States that would help improve their position in terms of the length of railway lines. But there are many States with scope and demand for improvement and more lines for better rail connectivity.

According to official statistics, the Indian Railways have 6,3000 route kilometres with more than 14,000 daily routes. The distance covered by trains per day is four times the distance between earth and moon with a total population of 46 countries travelling daily by trains. Besides, the Indian Railways carry over 13 million passengers and 14 million tonnes of freight daily.

Among the large number of States, which are below the national average of route kilometres per 1000 square kilometres areas, are Andhra Pradesh 18.89, Karnataka 15.51, Madhya Pradesh 15.7, Maharashtra 17.74, Orissa 14.90, Rajasthan 17.22 and Himachal Pradesh of as low as 4.83 route kilometres per 1000 square kilometres of area.

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