Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget for the financial year 2025-26, allocated INR 2.55 lakh crore for Indian Railways, a slight decrease from the INR 2.62 lakh crore allocated in the previous financial year.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the country can expect the rollout of 200 new Vande Bharat trains, 100 Amrit Bharat trains, 50 Namo Bharat rapid rail services, and 17,500 general non-AC coaches over the next two to three years. Adding these new trains and modern coaches aims to enhance travel comfort, mainly benefiting the low and middle-income groups.
Besides, the Budget outlines infrastructure development projects for Railways amounting to INR 4.60 lakh crore. A strong emphasis has been placed on safety, with INR 1.16 lakh crore allocated to enhance railway security through various initiatives.
Beyond railways, the Budget also prioritises tourism, introducing measures to boost travel infrastructure and experiences. The Finance Minister announced the development of 50 new tourist destinations under the “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative, ensuring improved accessibility and facilities. Heritage tourism will see a significant push, with plans to modernise iconic sites and enhance amenities at pilgrimage centres. The government will also invest in upgrading domestic airports and expanding regional connectivity to facilitate seamless travel to remote and underexplored destinations.
The Budget includes provisions for eco-tourism projects to promote further sustainable tourism, including new forest and wildlife circuit developments. Moreover, financial incentives and partnerships will be introduced to support homestays and rural tourism enterprises, boosting local economies.
(With inputs from multiple reports)
