For example, installation of intermediate block signalling on the entire high density network at a cost of Rs 250 crore will improve line capacity by five per cent — 15 per cent by end of March, 2009. Similarly, completion of automatic block signalling works on saturated sections of Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes would add another 20 per cent line capacity in three years. Application of information technology is another lever which can yield early returns at low cost by ensuring higher levels of synergy and optimisation.

Moreover, the Railways is not stashing away the surplus in banks. It is investing for capacity augmentation on a larger scale. The annual plan size of the Railways has got multiplied by a factor of three during the last four years from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 38,000 crore in 2008-09. Wagon production has gone up from 6,000 to 20,000, locos from 180 to 500, construction of new BG lines from 1,000 km to 3,500 km and so on.

Far more significant are the steps taken to improve capacity of the system through upgradation and modernisation of assets. For instance, capacity of newly designed covered and open wagons is higher by 78 per cent and 22 per cent respectively as compared to old design wagons. Similarly, capacity of new design passenger coaches is 5-20 per cent higher than old coaches. Production of old design coaches and wagons has been stopped and the retrofitment of old rolling stock is being done on a large scale.

... contd.