by

Rajesh Goyal

Thrust of the Budget :

 (1) Safety;  (2) Consolildation;  (3) Passenger  Amenities;  (4) Fiscal Discipline.

Some Achievements / Initiatives :

(a) IR enters the one billion tonne Select Club joining Chinese, Russian and US Railways;

(b) Target of 1000 crore each fixed for Rail Land Development Authority and IR Station Development Corporation to be raised through PPP in 2013-14

(c) Debt Service Fund, a new fund to be set up to meet committed liabilities of debt servicing for WB and JICA loans for DFC and other future liabilities

(d) Arunachal Pradesh brought under RAIL network

(e) 500 km new lines, 750 km doubling, 450 km gauge conversion targeted in 2013-14

(f) 1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47,000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged

Safety & Modernisation

To make 10-year corporate plan for rail safety (2014-2024)

Train Protection Warning System on Automatic Signalling Systems to be introduced;

1. Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains.

Freight  :

• 1,500 km to be awarded for dedicated freight corridor FY14
• FY14 freight loading estimated 1,007 million tonne

• New routes & Trains

A Coach Manufacturing Unit in Sonepat District (Haryana) in collaboration with State Government;

Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijyayawada, Nagpur,Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad

Rail Tourism:

Launching multi-modal travel package in cooperation with Jammu and Kashmir state government;

Issuing "Yatra Parchis" to pilgrims travelling by Rail to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at the time of railway ticket booking

Introduction of an educational tourist train with concessional fares - 'Azadi Express' - to connect places associated with freedom movemenet;

Introduction of executive lounges at 7 more stations namely, Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru

Facilities

• To put in place next generation e-ticketing system by Dec 2013
• New system to enable booking 7,200 tickets/min Vs 2,000 now
• SMS alerts for reservation status being rolled out
• Plan free Wi-Fi facility onboard trains
• To extend internet booking timing from 00:30 IST to 23:30 IST
• Look forward to use Aadhar services for Railways
• To introduce 1 luxury 'Anubhuti' coach in express trains
• To identify 60 more railway stations as model stations
• To set up 8-10 more mechanized laundries for rail linen
• To set up 8 women railway police units in addition to the existing  4'