The 2004-05 Annual Plan outlay for railways has been pegged at Rs 14,498 crore (Rs 144.98 billion), which is Rs 773 crore (Rs 7.73 billion) more than the outlay of the Interim Budget apart from Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah National Project.

The Annual Plan outlay includes Rs 2,933 crore (Rs 29.33 billion) on safety related works through the Special Railway Safety Fund.

Presenting the Railway Budget, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said the thrust of the Annual Plan is development and safety and the total outlay under capital on the five major plan project heads this year has been kept at Rs 2,696 crore (Rs 26.96 billion) with Rs 947 crore (Rs 9.47 billion) on new lines (excluding Rs 300 crore for Kashmir rail project).

Besides the new lines, Rs 760 crore (Rs 7.60 billion) is being provided for gauge conversion and Rs 125 crore (Rs 1.25 billion) for electrification.