Budget 2022: Development of roads and railways infrastructure

Budget 2022 provided a blueprint for the development of roads & railways infrastructure, two of the seven engines for the PM Gati Shakti plan

Union Budget 2022 laid down some very significant plans for the development of roads, one of the engines for the PM Gati Shakti plan.   

Of these, the formulation of PM Gati Shakti master plan for expressways is to be formulated in FY23. While this plan is aimed at facilitating faster movement of goods and people, the FM also made the following announcements: 

• Expansion of the national highways network by 25,000 kms in FY23.   

• Mobilisation of Rs 20,000 crore through innovative ways of financing to complement the public resources.   
• With an intent to improve international competitiveness, data exchange among all mode operators is to be brought on a unified logistics interface platform, designed for an application programming interface.   
• Contracts for implementation of multimodal logistics park at four locations via PPP mode to be awarded in FY23.   
  
  Some notable announcements for railways, another engine of PM Gati Shakti plan are: 
   

• Development of new products and efficient logistics services for small farmers as well as small & medium enterprises.   
• For providing seamless solutions for the movement of parcels, the postal network and railways network shall be integrated.   
• For helping local businesses and supply chains, the concept of ‘One Station One Product’ shall be popularised.   
• Introduction of a new scheme ‘Kavach’, the indigenous world-class technology for safety and capacity augmentation in FY23, which shall bring 2000 kms of the network under its ambit.  
• Development & manufacturing of 400 new generations Vande Bharat trains, aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and passenger rising experience.   
• Encouragement to innovative ways of financing and faster implementation for building metro systems of appropriate type at scale.   
• Design of metro systems, including civil structures, to be reoriented and standardised for Indian conditions and means.  
• Priority shall be given to the facilitation of multimodal connectivity between mass urban transport and railway stations.  
  
   Other noteworthy announcements include: 
   

• Adoption of the national ropeways development programme in hilly areas for improving connectivity and convenience for commuters as well as for promoting tourism. Contracts for eight such ropeway projects for a length of 60 kms to be awarded in FY23.   
• Allocation of Rs 48,000 crore for housing projects in FY23 under the PM housing scheme.   
• An outlay of Rs 60,000 crore towards the ‘Nal se Jal’ scheme for covering 3.8 crore households for tap water.