OREANDA-NEWS. April 01, 2011. Indian Railways has made the highest ever achievement in construction of new line and doubling projects in the financial year 2010-11. Railways has achieved the progress of construction of 709 kilometres of new lines in the year 2010-11, against the annual average progress of 180 kilometres new lines since independence. The highest achievement in construction of new lines in one year has been 357 kilometres in the year 2008-09. Therefore, the progress of 709 kilometers in 2010-11 is almost four times the average achievement and double the highest annual progress achieved since independence.

The Railways could achieve this feat as it set very ambitious all time high target of 1000 kilometers of new lines in one year (2010-11), which was firs time ever a major jump in view of Railways’ limited resources. The ambitious target proved to be great motivation in achieving this record setting feat in new line construction.

In case of doubling projects also, the progress during 2010-11 has been 769 kilometres, which is the highest ever and almost three times the average annual progress of 260 kilometres of doubling achieved since independence. This is also more than the target fixed for the said fiscal. In case of gauge conversion, Railways completed 837 kilometres in 2010-11 which is again more than the target of 834 kilometres.

The overall achievement in construction of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling projects during 2010-11 has been 2315 kilometres, which is also the highest ever achieved in a year since independence.

Therefore, all previous records have been surpassed during 2010-11 in the area of network expansion.

In case of electrification of lines, Railways have completed 972 kilometres route during the year 2010-11 which is again more than the average annual target of electrification planned during the XI plan. In addition, approximately 254 kilometres of lines have been electrified as part of works of doubling, 3rd and 4th line and other traffic facilities.