Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14 -Governance Now

Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14

Railways will use Aadhar data base for bookings and validation of passengers

PTI | February 26, 2013

Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presents the Railway Budget 2013-14 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Some of the highlights of the budget are:

*Losses to railways on account of passenger traffic likely to mount to Rs 24,600 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 22,500 crore in 2011-12.

*12th Plan railway size to be Rs 5.19 lakh crore, with gross budgetary support of Rs 1.94 lakh crore.

*Rs one lakh crore to be raised from public-private partnership, Rs 1.05 lakh crore through internal resources in the 12th Plan, says Railway Minister P K Bansal.

*Elimination of 10,700 unmanned level crossings targeted during the Plan; no more new such crossings to be created.

*Corporate Safety Plan to be prepared for ten-year period (2014-24).

*Free wi-fi facility to be provided in select 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.

*Freight rates to be linked to input fuel charges from April 1.

*Proposes elimination of 10,797 level crossing during 12th Plan and introduction of Train Protection Warning System on automatic signalling systems.

*Introduction of self-propelled accident relief trains and rehabilitation of 17 distressed bridges over next year.

*Provision of comprehensive fire and smoke detection systems and use of fire retardant furnishing materials in coaches.

*Centralised catering services monitoring cell set up with toll free number 1800-111-321.

*Steps to curb malpractices in reserved tickets including tatkal scheme.

*Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservations status and covering larger number of trains under Real Time Information System.

*Highest ever plan outlay of Rs 63,363 crore in 2013-14.

Market borrowing pegged at Rs 15,103 crore.

*Freight loading target for 2013-14 at 1,047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13.

*Passenger growth estimated at 5.2 pc and gross traffic receipts estimated at Rs 1,43,742 crore in 2013-14 (up Rs 18,062 crore over revised estimates of 2012-13).

*Ordinary working expenses estimated at Rs 96,500 crore, operating ratio to be 87.8 pc and dividend at Rs 6,249 crore.

*Railway proposes 500 km new lines, doubling of 750 km and gauge conversion in 450 km of lines in 2013-14.

*Concessional travel for award winning sports persons.

*1.52 lakh vacancies to be filled this year.

*Proposal for setting up Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority formulated.

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