India’s 84 Railway Projects Worth INR 990 Billion On Cards To Boost Coal Traffic

15-Oct-2018

With an increasing share in the freight cargo, Indian Railways has lined up 84 projects that would cost the government INR 989.8 billion to boost coal traffic. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will monitor 14 of these projects so that these can be completed between 2020 and 2022. “The projects will cover 9,259 km. Fifteen of these are line extensions of 2,178 km,” said a government official. Projects of about 6,445 km would involve doubling, tripling, and adding a fourth line on some routes; gauge conversion would be done on 636 km.

Union Minister of Steel, Mr Chaudhary Birender Singh, reached Bhilai today morning and directly reached the hospital to enquire about the treatment being given and condition of those injured in yesterday’s fire incident. The Minister also interacted with their family members. The Minister announced compensation of INR 30 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident, INR 15 lakh each for those who have serious injuries and INR 2 lakh each for those with minor injuries.

The families of the deceased will receive statutory compensation ranging from INR 33 to 90 lakh in addition to the compensation announced by the Minister. Steel Minister also directed SAIL to provide employment to the next of kin who died in the accident and free education to be given to children up to graduation level.

Three more employees have succumbed to their injuries taking the total death toll to twelve. Ten persons continue to receive treatment in the burns ward of Bhilai Steel Plant Hospital and one person is admitted in the ICU in critical condition.

Dr Maneesh Singhal, Head of Department of Burns Unit of AIIMS, Delhi, has reached Bhilai and has expressed satisfaction with the treatment being provided in the Bhilai Steel Plant Hospital. Steel Ministry is in the process of setting up an external committee of experts and orders will be issued soon.

Source: BUSINESS STANDARD