NDTV/Sify
New Delhi, Feb 26: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has started presenting the Railway Budget. With general elections due next year, it's expected to be a populist budget.
He announced a cash surplus of Rs 25,000 crore for Railways and an operating ratio of 76 per cent. Railways has a fund balance of Rs 20,480 crore.
The Railways has witnessed 233 MT increment in loading and the freight loading has gone up by 8 – 10 per cent. He also added that the Railways aim to increase loading to 790 MT in FY’08.
Railways plans to add 15,000 computer ticket counters in the next two-year and smart card based ticket system will be introduced. The trains will be controlled online. Long run trains would display next station’s name. Auto ticket sale machines will be increased to 6000 in two years
All Rajdhani trains will have new coaches by 2010 Shatabdi trains by 2011. Public address system will also be introduced in some express trains. By 2010-11, all the coaches will of stainless steel.
Railway Minister also announced multi level parking in big stations and 195 stations would get foot overbridges. Out of these, 30 major stations will have multi-level parking.
Railway also aim to complete work on 416 stations out of 560 by September and plans 20,000 km high density network.
Railways would invest Rs 75,000 crore to upgrade infrastructure in next seven years. New dedicated lines for carrying coal for power companies will also be laid.
Highlights of Railway Budget:
• Special Delhi-Pune train for C’wealth Games
• State-of-the-art equipment for RPF
• CCTVs at all major stations
• 53 new trains, 10 more Garib Raths
• Boys to get fare concessions to home city till class 12
• Vision 2025 to set targets for 17 yrs
• Anti-collision system to be expanded
• Coolies to be promoted as gangmen
• Gangmen to be promoted to man railway crossings
• Staff benefit funds to be raised 10 times next year
• One more rail captive power plant in Bihar
• 16,548 old rail tracks to be renewed
• New coach factory in Kerala
• Ashok Chakra awardees to get free tickets in Rajdhani, Shatabdi
• 50 pc concession for senior women citizens
• New Delhi, Mumbai CST, Patna, Secunderabad to be world class stations
• 50 pc concession for AIDS patients
• 50 pc concession for senior women citizens
• New Delhi, Mumbai CST, Patna, Secunderabad to be world class stations
• Free season tickets for girls till graduation
• All unmanned crossings to be now manned
• Metal detector, baggage scan at key stations
• 5 pc reservation for women in railway jobs
• Rs 68,778 cr surplus in four years
• 20,000 km high density network
• B-type stations to have professionally designed shelters
• Considering rail link for Ennore port
• 50 big terminals in Mumbai, Pune & Gaziabad
• Electrification of more North Indian routes
• Hike container train operators to 50-55 trains
• Concor to setup 8 depots
• 15 licenced operators for container trains
• To manufacture 20,000 wagons in FY09
• To produce only stainless steel coaches after FY10
• Auto ticket sale machines at 6,000 in 2 years
• In talks with foreign cos for new wagon design
• Ticket confirmation via mobiles likely
• 448 stations to provide with shelters, sheds
• Rlys to issue wait listed e-tickets
• Express trains to have Public Address System
• Aim to have no queues for tickets
• 560 stations to be lengthened
• Foot Over Bridges in all high platforms
• Touch screens, colour TVs across the country
• Railways mulls reservation through mobiles
• Number of passengers in peak season increases
• ‘Go Mumbai’ card to be sold at bus depots
• Housekeeping in Shatabdi to be outsourced
• Multi-level parking at 30 stations
• Lifts and escalators in 50 stations
• 15,000 automated ticket machines in 2 years
• Rlys to be linked by call centres by 2009
• Smart card based ticketing systems planned
• Green toilets by 2009
• LED display boards in stations
• Rail plan up from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore
• To link trains via IT, communication by 2009
• Modular toilets in trains
• Long distance trains to display next stations, expected time of arrival from 2009
• More sophisticated coaches in Rajdhani, Shatabdi trains
• On board cleaning in Rajdhani, Shatabdi
• Turned Rlys into a profit-making body
• Railway fund balance up at Rs 20,480 cr
• Reduced fares increased volumes and profits
• Revenue from passenger fares increased by 14%
• Additional Rs 2,000 crore earned on freight services.
• 790 tonnes payload target achieved.
• Railways record Rs 25,000 cr profit in 2007-08.
• Rs 49,250 crore invested on new projects.
• Lalu begins Budget speech.
• This is Lalu's fifth Railway Budget.
• Lalu arrives in Parliament to submit Rail Budget.