The Ministry of Railways is all set to expedite construction of 14 strategic projects, mainly in border areas that have failed to take-off for want of funds.

These 14 projects have been hanging fire because of want of funds to construct these lines. As per the ministry’s estimation, it will require over Rs four lakh crore to clear its pending projects.

These 14 strategic line projects --13 new lines and one doubling project -- involve laying down of 2,888 km of railway tracks in Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Punjab.

Further, some of the important new lines the ministry has proposed include Srinagar-Kargil-Leh; Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch; and Pathankot-Leh route.

In terms of priority, the ministry has also listed three projects in the Northeast -- Pasighat-Tezu-Rupai-Parasuramkund new line project; Misamari-Tawang new line; and North Lakhimpur-Along-Silapather new line. A new line between Patti-Ferozepur in Punjab and a doubling project between Jodhpur-Jaisalmer are fourth and fifth on the priority list.