Here are the highlights of the railway budget presented in the Lok Sabha Tuesday by Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal:
Fare hike:
No hike in passenger fares
Marginal hike in freight fares
Superfast charges and Tatkal fee to be hiked
5 per cent average increase in freight
Dynamic fuel adjustment component to be introduced on freight rates from April one, that will result in less than five per cent increase in rates
New freight rates from April 1
Overview
Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13
Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore
Fall in accidents - per million accidents down from .41 to .13; Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings
Rs one lakh crore to be raised from public-private partnership, Rs 1.05 lakh crore through internal resources in the 12th Plan
Elimination of 10,700 unmanned level crossings targeted during the Plan
Corporate Safety Plan to be prepared for ten-year period (2014-24)
Identification of 104 stations for upgradation in places with more than one million population and of religious significance
Railways to set up six more Rail Neer bottling plants
Corporate plan for 10 years to be drawn up
Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US
Allocation of Rs 1,000 crore each made for railway land development authority and railway station development authority
New coach manufacturing and maintenance facilities to be set up in various places including Rae Bareli, Bhilwara, Sonepat, Kalahandi, Kolar, Palakkad and Pratapgarh
Safety measures:
Seventeen bridges identified for repair
Smoke and fire detection system envisaged
Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans
Raised four companies of women RPF personnel, and another eight to be raised for women's safety
Passenger amenities:
Free WiFi on special trains
Special A/C coaches 'Anubhuti', to be introduced in select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with commensurate fare
Railways will use Aadhar data base for bookings and validation of passengers
SMS alert service being rolled out shortly to intimate passengers about reservation status
Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
Common rail-bus ticket to be introduced for Katra-Vaishnodevi pilgrims
New train Azadi Express to places linked with the freedom struggle to be introduced, fares to be concessional.
47,000 vacancies for weaker sections and physically challenged to be filled up soon
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