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Railway Budget 2026: Indian Railways gets Rs 2.93 lakh cr capex allocation, total outlay at Rs 2.78 lakh cr

Rail Budget 2026 announcement: In the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to develop seven high-speed rail corridors across the country.

2 min readUpdated: Feb 1, 2026 05:25 PM IST

Rail Budget 2026: Indian Railways receives its highest-ever budget allocation (Image generated using AI)

Railway Budget 2026 funding, Railway Budget 2026 news: The Ministry of Railways has been allocated a total capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 2,93,030 crore in the Union Budget for the financial year 2026–27. However, it received total outlay of Rs 2,78,030 crore in the Budget 2026. This is the highest-ever allocation for the ministry.

“The provision under Capital expenditure towards New Lines, Gauge conversion, Doubling, Traffic facilities, Rolling Stock etc. is met from the gross budgetary support. A total outlay of..Rs 2,77,830 crore is provided for capital expenditure in BE 2026-27. Further amount of..Rs 200 crore is being met from Nirbhaya Fund in BE 2026-27,” the statement reads.

Addressing to media, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that focus on safety is top most priority.

In the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to develop seven high-speed rail corridors across the country. These are: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bangalore, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bangalore, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri.

Also Read | Bullet train: FM Sitharaman proposes 7 high-speed rail corridors in Budget 2026 – check routes

Railway Budget 2026: Key focus areas

The key focus areas for capital expenditure include: construction of new line, gauge conversion, doubling, traffic facilities, rolling stock, etc.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

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