Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Highlights of the Indian Railway Budget 2013-14

The highlights of the Rail Budget as presented by Indian Railway Minister - Pawan Kumar Bansal:
No increase in passenger fare
Railways will absorb `. 850 crore on account of no hike in passenger fare
Marginal increase in reservation charges, cancellation charges
Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
Superfast and Tatkal charges to rise
27 new passenger trains to be introduced
67 express trains to be launched
Run of 58 trains to be extended
72 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata
9 Electric Multiple Unit trains to be introduced
22 new lines to be taken up in 2013-14
500-km new lines to be completed in 2013-14
Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year
Concessional fare for sportspersons
5% average increase in freight
Diesel price hike added `.3,300 crore to fuel bill of Railways
5.2% growth in passenger traffic expected in 2013-14
Railways to set up a Debt Service Fund
`.3,000 crore loan from Finance Ministry repaid with interest by Railways this financial year
New coach manufacturing and maintenance facilities to be set up in various places
Centralised training institute to be set up in Secunderabad
Will provide better living conditions for Railway Protection Force personnel
Seek to fill 1.52 lakh vacancies in railways this year.
Target of `.4,000 crore for railway production units in 2014
Trying to connect Manipur through railways
Investment of `.3800 crore for port connectivity projects
Target of `.1000 crore each for Indian Railways Land Development Authority and Indian
Railways Station Development authority
Labs to test food provided in trains. ISO certification for all rail kitchens
Induction of e-ticketing through mobile phones
Next-generation e-ticketing system to improve end user experience.
`.100 crore to be spent to augment facilities at Delhi, New Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations
Free wi-fi facilities in select trains
More ladies specials in metros and a helpline number to be implemented
Elimination of over 10,000 level crossings and 17 bridges sanctioned for rehabilitation
Enhancement of the track capacity and the Train Protection Warning System
Indigenously developed collision avoidance system to be put to trial
Induction of self-propelled accident relief trains along with fast and reliable disaster management system
Operating ratio of 88.8% achieved
Dividend reduced from 5 to 4%
`.63,000 crore investment in 2013-14
1,047 million tonnes freight loading estimated during 2013-14
Freight earning to grow by 9% to `.93,554 crore.
Passenger earnings of `. 42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14
Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management to be set up at Secunderabad
New wheel factory to be set up at Rae Bareli
Greenfiled EMU manufacturing facility at Bhilwara
Railway energy management company to be set up to harness solar and wind energy
179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations
Raised four companies of women RPF personnel, and another eight to be raised for women's safety
Losses mounted from `.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to `.24,600 crore in 2012-13
Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at `.125.19 lakh crore
`.1 lakh crore to be raised from public-private partnership, `.1.05 lakh crore through internal.
Use of Aadhaar card by Railways to render user friendly services
More RPF guards, ladies specials in metros and helplines to be implemented
Railways hopes to end 2013-14 with a balance of `.12,506 crore

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