India

RAIL BUDGET – HIGHLIGHTS
No increase in passenger fares

Rs.100 reduction in freight per wagon for fertilisers and kerosene

Free travel for cancer patients in 3rd AC classes

Cost-sharing in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode in some gauge-conversion projects

Further extension of Kolkata Metro on priority basis; stations to be named after Bahadur Shah Zafar, Tagore family

Karmabhoomi trains to be introduced for migrant labour

New Janmabhoomi train between Ahmedabad and Udhampur

Special ‘Bharat Teertha’ train to be run around India to commemorate Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary

Railway line to be extended from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir

Andaman and Nicobar Islands to get railway line from Port Blair to Diglipur

Sikkim capital Gangtok to be connected by rail from Rangpo

2011 being 150th anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, special train to be run from West Bengal to Bangladesh

Gross earnings in 2009-10 estimated at Rs.88,281 crore

Working expenditure in 2009-10 estimated at Rs.83,440 crore

Expenses during 2010-11 estimated at Rs.87,100 crore

Thrust on expansion in 2010-11 with allocation of Rs.4,411 crore

Kashmir rail link to be extended to Sopore in the north of the valley

Net profit of Rs.1,328 crore in 2009-10

10 automobile ancillary hubs to be created

Twenty-two million energy saving CFLs for lighting distributed already

Policy decision to employ one member of family whose land is requisitioned for railway projects

North-south, east-west dedicated freight corridors to be created

Construction of high-speed passenger rail corridors envisaged

More multi-functional hospitals to be set up

Educational facilities to be set up for children of 80,000 women families

Special facilities to be established for gangmen

Insurance facilities for licensed porters as part of railway’s corporate social responsibility

Centre for railway research to be established with Indian Institutes of Technology and

Defence Research and Development Organisation

Will involve unions in policy making

Integral Coach Factory Chennai to be further modernised

New wagon repair shop in Mumbai

Design, development and testing centre for railway wheels at Bangalore

Within five years, all unmanned level crossings to be manned

Construction of more underpasses, besides road overbridges

Greater coordination with state governments to protect railway property

Security of women passengers to be improved

Ex-servicemen to be employed in Railway Protection Force

Five sports academies to be set up

Astroturf to be provided for development of hockey

Employment opportunities for sports persons

Railways to be lead partner for Commonwealth Games

Special drive to increase passenger amenities

Upgrade of 94 stations

Six new drinking water bottling plants in PPP mode

Modern toilets at railway stations

More ticketing centres to help the public

Acquisition of cutting edge safety technology

1,000 route km to be created

Special task force for clearing investment proposals in 100 days

New business model to be created

No privatisation of railways

But greater participation of private sector

117 of 120 new trains for current fiscal to be flagged off