World Bank to give US$30bn aid to Railways: Suresh Prabhu

The Minister was talking to reporters in New Delhi on the 11th edition of International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE), scheduled from 14-16th October at Pragati Maidan

The World Bank has promised US$30bn financial assistance to the Indian Railways, Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Monday.

Prabhu also said that the proposed station development project will attract ~US$20bn in phases.

The Minister was talking to reporters in New Delhi on the 11th edition of International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE), scheduled from 14-16th October at Pragati Maidan.

Maintaining that funds will not be a problem for completing infrastructural projects for the Railways, Prabhu said that the capital expenditure for FY16 will surpass the budget estimates.

Almost 89% of the budget announcements have been fulfilled, he said.

The Railway Minister also said that the Railways has envisaged an ambitious programme of electrifying ~10,000 km of railway lines in the next five years.

Discussions with Japan and South Korea have progressed to build water-less, odour-less toilets in trains, Prabhu said.
He also said that Google has offered cooperation to set up WiFi connectivity at railway stations and platforms.