Rail Budget 2013-14 : Complete Story

Rail Budget : Overview

Union Rail Budget for the session 2013-14 was launched by Railway Minister Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal on Tuesday in Parliament.

Many Points have been covered up in This year budget.

Introduction to latest technology was also one of the focus.

Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal was happy to announce that it has now joined the elite railway billion club of China, Russia and United States in transporting over a billion tonnes of goods in a year.

Indian railways must remain financially viable, according to him. Here is the Complete Highlights of Railway Budget:-

•No increase in passenger fares but still Mr Bansal has opened his options as he added that fares will be dependent upon the price of diesel.

•Railways will absorb Rs. 850 crore on account of no hike in passenger fare.

•Marginal increase in reservation charges, cancellation charges •Supplementary charges for superfast trains and tatkal booking.

•26 new passenger trains to be launched.

•67 express trains to be launched.

•9 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains to be introduced.

•500-km new lines to be completed in 2013-14.

•Concessional fare for sportspersons •5 per cent average increase in freight.

•Diesel price hike added Rs. 3,300 crore to fuel bill of Railways.

•Railways hopes to end 2013-14 with a balance of Rs. 12,506 crore.

•5.2 per cent growth in passenger traffic expected in 2013-14.

•Railways' freight loading traffic scaled down by 100 million tonnes from 1025 million tonnes because of economic slowdown.

•Railways to set up a Debt Service Fund.

•Rs. 3,000 crore loan from Finance Ministry re-paid with interest by Railways this financial year.

•New coach manufacturing and maintenance facilities to be set up in various places including Rae Bareli, Bhilwara, Sonepat, Kalahandi, Kolar, Palakkad and Pratapgarh.

•Five fellowships to be announced to motivate students.

•Centralised training institute to be set up in Secunderabad.

•Will provide better living conditions for Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.

•Target of Rs. 4,000 crore for railway production units in 2014.

•Trying to connect Manipur through railways.

•Investment of Rs. 3800 crore for port connectivity projects •Target of Rs. 1000 crore each for Indian Railways Land Development Authority and Indian Railways Station Development authority.

•Toll free 1800111321 number to address grievance. Introduced from February 2013.

•Labs to test food provided in trains. ISO certification for all rail kitchens.

•Advance fraud control will be used for ticket sale.

•Induction of e-ticketing through mobile phones, SMS alerts to passengers.India will join countries like the US and UK in allowing passengers to book electronic rail tickets on mobile phones, and the railways will soon start SMS alerts to passengers on their reservation status.

•Next-generation e-ticketing system to improve end user experience.  The system will support 7200 users per minute.

•Wheelchairs and escalators to be made to make stations and trains friendlier for the differently-abled.

• At the time of economic slowdown leading to job crunch, the railways has also presented a bonanza - 1.52 lakh new jobs in a year.

These vacancies would be filled up in the coming election year. The next general election is slated for April-May 2014.

47,000 vacancies for weaker sections and physically challenged to be filled up soon.

•Rs. 100 crore to be spent to augment facilities at Delhi, New Delhi and Nizamuddin railway stations.

•Special attention to stations in NCR.

•Free wi-fi facilities in select trains. 60 more 'adarsh' stations.

• Internet ticketing will also be opened up for a longer, 23-hour daily window - from 12:30am to 11:30pm.

•Safety measures including new coaches with anti-climb features to be brought in.

•More ladies specials in metros and a helpline number to be implemented.

•All railway kitchens would be ISO certified, and that the railways are signing agreements with independent food testing laboratories.

•Railways meets need of consumers while adhering to sound economic principles. Need to expand at a much faster growth rate.

•Resource crunch cannot be a reason for substandard services.

•Elimination of over 10,000 level crossings.

•17 bridges sanctioned for rehabilitation.

•Enhancement of the track capacity and the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS).

•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.

•Railway passengers deserve safe and comfortable travel. Safety is a mandate in running trains. There has been a significant reduction in accidents - .41 per million kms in 2003-04 to .13 in 2011- 12. We will strive to work towards a zero accident situation.

•Mounting scarcity of resources, thin spread of funds continue to be a problem.

•The number of passenger trains has increased from 8000 in 2001 to over 12000 in 2012 - yet losses continue to mount. It is estimated to be Rs. 24,000 cr in 2012-13 .

•Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year.

•Rs.6,600 crore increase in earnings from fare adjustment in January.

•Rs.63,000 crore investment in 2013-14.

•Passenger earnings of Rs 42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14.

•Winners of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Dhyan Chand awards to get free first class passes.

•Complementary first class passes for parents of unmarried posthumous awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.

 •Complementary passes of freedom fighters to be renewed every three years instead of annually.

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