India has seen a major shift in its transport network over the last decade. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently shared that the country has added 36,000 kilometres of new railway tracks to improve connectivity. Along with the rails, the number of operational airports in the country has also more than doubled since 2014.
What are the key updates in Railway and Airport growth?
The growth in infrastructure is visible in both air and rail sectors. Official data shows that operational airports increased from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024. The government plans to reach 350-400 airports by 2047. In the railway sector, about 36,000 km of entirely new tracks were laid in the last ten years to increase the capacity of the network.
What are the upcoming Railway projects and investments?
The Ministry has significantly increased spending on the railways. Investment rose from ₹35,000 crore to ₹2,72,000 crore after the budget merger in 2016. Several new projects are now in the pipeline to further improve travel:
- 3,000 new regular train services will be introduced over the next five years.
- Railway projects worth ₹1 lakh crore are planned for West Bengal.
- 60 next-generation trains will be added to the Kolkata Metro.
- Bullet trains will eventually connect Delhi to Siliguri in six hours.
- 102 Amrit Bharat Stations are being modernized.
Recent track doubling and expansion projects
| Project Name | Location | Details/Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Mararikulam – Alappuzha | Kerala | 10.65 km doubling at ₹220.51 crore |
| Kiul-Jhajha 3rd Line | Bihar | Capacity expansion project |
| Arakkonam-Chengalpattu | Tamil Nadu | Doubling project for better efficiency |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many new railway tracks were added in the last decade?
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that approximately 36,000 kilometres of new railway tracks have been laid across the country in the last ten years.
What is the current status of operational airports in India?
The number of operational airports has increased from 74 in 2014 to 157 in 2024, with a future target of 350-400 airports by 2047.