The Indian government has increased funding for India's state railway IR to €28.4 billion (INR 2.55 trillion) in the interim budget for the financial year 2024-25. On 1st February 2024, plans were announced for the construction of three major rail corridors for the transport of cement, fuels, and minerals, the improvement of port connections, and the decongestion of IR's busiest passenger rail transport lines. In addition, the budget includes proposals to expand the metro networks in other Indian cities and similar projects such as the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), the first section of which was opened in October 2023 in the National Capital Region around Delhi. It has also been proposed to upgrade 40,000 passenger coaches on the main network to bring them up to the standards of the 160 km/h Vande Bharat Electric Multiple Units (EMUs), although an increase in speed is unlikely due to track and signalling restrictions as well as slow modernisation.
