Rail Budget 2014: Gowda to revamp railway infrastructure

Railway minister Sadananda Gowda has presented the Modi government's first railway budget on Tuesday at a time when the cash-strapped transporter is gasping for survival.

Prime minister Modi has promised to modernize the railways and build high-speed networks across the country.

Gowda is expected to announce more public-private partnerships in railway infrastructure.

The pre-budget hike in fares and freight as made Gowda's job a tad easier. The minister is likely to announce a slew of measures to garner funds such as tapping foreign investments, encouraging private players and outlining public-private partnership models to revamp rail infrastructure.

Gowda may announce plans to accelerate the project relating to running bullet trains (300 kmph) on Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridors and increasing the speed of elite Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to 160-200 kmph.

The BJP-led government has already shown its intention to allow FDI in high-speed corridors, dedicated freight routes and private participation in modernization of stations.

The minister is expected to desist from populism and focus on streamlining the system and announce measures to enhance safety and passenger amenities.

Fresh measures to improve cleanliness and hygiene inside trains, on platforms and along tracks are set to resonate in Gowda's speech.