|
New Delhi: With no
fare hikes, 106 new trains and a host of proposals for travel
safety and comfort, such as escalators at key stations, a new
e-ticketing system and a swanky coach in select trains, Railway
Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presented his maiden annual budget for
his ministry Tuesday.
"The growth of Indian Railways is inextricably linked with the
growth of the country," Bansal said in his 80-minute budget speech
in Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, that clearly bordered
on populism with a fair dose of measures on fiscal discipline.
"Railways must remain financially sustainable. Resources generated
must be ploughed back," he said in what was the last such annual
exercise for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government
before the next general elections, scheduled in 2014.
But Bansal said there will be no major fare hikes this time,
having already revised them last month. He nevertheless proposed
minor revisions in some charges, such as those for tatkal and
reservations. He also called for a routine 5-6 percent fare hike
every year.
On freight, he said, there will be an upward revision of 5-6
percent from April 1 to balance the hike in fuel costs. He said
freight and passenger fares must be de-linked from the fuel costs
with periodic automatic adjustments.
Bansal said while making all these proposals, he was happy to note
that the operating ratio of Indian Railways -- the money spent on
recurring costs such as salaries and interest to earn Rs.1 in
revenue -- had come down to 88 paise from around 95 paise.
He kept the plan target for 2013-14 at Rs.63,363 crore (Rs.633.63
billion or $11.5 billion)
The minister said railways remained the single most important
catalyst in India's growth story and was a vital organisation
integrating the nation from Baramulla in the north to Kanyamumari
in the south, and from Dwarka in the west to Ledo in the east.
Bansal expressed grief over the loss lives due to the recent
stampede at the Allahabad station and said a concrete safety plan
would ensure that travel on Indian Railways is hassel free. The
minister said safety of women, in particular, will be a priority.
He said the remaining 13,000-odd unmanned level crossings will be
mechanised, while 400 lifts and 179 escalators will be deployed in
catagory one stations. This apart, coaches will be made
wheel-chair friendly and approaches made easy for the differently-abled.
"With the popularity of Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains, high-travel
comfort has been high on passenger agenda. For this, one such
coach, that will provide excellent ambience and services, will run
on select trains. Such coaches will be called 'Anubhuti'," he
said.
India's railroad network, ranked among the top five in the world,
is spread over 64,000 km with 7,083 stations, to ferry 23 million
travellers and 2.65 million tonnes of goods daily on 12,000
passenger and 7,000 freight trains.
Bansal, who represents Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha, said he was
well aware about the problems faced by passengers while booking
tickets on the internet. Accordingly, he promised a
next-generation ticketing system by the end of this year.
The advocate-turned politician also promised a new e-ticketing
system through mobile phones, SMS alerts for reservation status
and free wi-fi on select trains, apart from setting a target of
Rs.1 trillion for projects under public-private partnership.
Budget Highlights
No hike in passenger fares
Superfast and Tatkal charges to rise
Annual plan for 2013-14 set at Rs.63,363 crore
Losses up from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in
2012-13
Accidents per million km down from .41 to .13
Raised four companies of women RPF personnel; another eight to be
raised for women's safety
67 new Express and 26 new passenger trains to run; 8 DEMU services
and 5 MEMU services to be introduced; run of 57 trains to be
extended; frequency of 24 trains to increase
22 new rail lines to be taken up in 2013-14
New debt service fund to be set up
Will close fiscal 2012-13 with fund balance against previous
deficit; need to build fund balance to Rs.30,000 crore by end of
12th Plan
Operating ratio of 88.8 percent achieved
Dividend reduced from 5 to 4 percent
Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year
72 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata
Rs.6,600 crore increase in earnings from fare adjustment in
January
Rs.63,000 crore investment in 2013-14
1,047 million tonnes freight loading estimated during 2013-14
Passenger earnings of Rs.42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14
Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management to be set up at
Secunderabad
Chair at Delhi to promote research in reducing carbon footprint
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
New forged wheel factory at Rae Bareli in collaboration with
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd
Greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) manufacturing
facility at Bhilwara along with Rajasthan government and BHEL
Coach making unit at Sonepat in collaboration with Haryana
government
Midlife rehabilitation workshop at Kurnool along with Andhra
Pradesh government.
Railway energy management company to be set up to harness solar
and wind energy
1,000 crossings to be energised by solar power
1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up
Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned
Azadi Express for travel to places associated with freedom
struggle
India in 1 billion tonne freight club
By end of 2013-14, 1,500 km of contracts to be awarded for two
dedicated rail corridors
Rs.1 lakh crore target set for public-private-partnership route
Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains
Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi
179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations
E-ticketing through mobile phones
SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status
Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013
Seventeen bridges identified for repair
Smoke and fire detection system envisaged
Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans
Making corporate Safety Plan for a 10 year period (2014-24)
Introduction of Train Protection Warning System on Automatic
Signalling Systems
Rigorous trials of indigenously developed Train Collision
Avoidance System
Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains
Elimination of 10,797 level crossings during the 12th Plan and no
addition of such crossings
Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up
|
Comments
|
Quick links