New Delhi, February 25 (IANS): India’s rail budget has kept passenger fares and freight rates unchanged at least for now. A slew of measures has been announced for travel comfort. But the operational efficiency has taken a beating even as concerns remain over raising money for future projects.
This is the crux of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s budget for his ministry presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday - that shows targets set by him for this fiscal on a host of counts remained to be realised, be it on receipts from passengers and freight, revenue mop-up or efficiency.
“We have managed to break away from average capital expenditure of Rs.48,100 crore over the period 2009-14, and an average growth of only 8 percent per annum, to achieve a quantum jump,” he said.
“This year, our investment would be close to double of the average of previous years -- a feat never achieved earlier. For the year 2016-17, the capital plan has been pegged at Rs.1.21 lakh crore,” he added. He also hoped for a 10-percent jump in total revenue.
Spared a fare hike and promised involvement in the private sector better, industry chambers have reasons to cheer. The share markets however gave a thumbs-down to the budget. Disappointment over lack of any big-ticket projects, rail-related stocks fell on Thursday -- BEML by 3.29 percent, Siemens by 1.06 percent, ABB by 1.37 percent, Larsen and Toubro by 1.5 percent, and Timken by 2.31 percent. Some, though, rose.
Prabhu said his ministry will surpass the target of commissioning 2,500 km broad gauge lines this fiscal -- almost 30 percent higher than last year. There were also a slew of measures for passengers: 65,000 more berths on trains, over 2,500 water vending machines, 17,000 bio-toilets inside coaches, 1,780 automatic ticketing machines, 120,000 concurrent users for e-ticketing, and e-catering services at 408 stations.
This apart, he said, the quota of lower berths for senior citizens will be hiked by 50 percent to 120 such seats per train, more stations will come under special scheme for old and differently abled passengers, and a new train “Tejas” will be introduced at 130 km per hour.
He also announced WiFi at 100 more stations this year and 400 more stations in the next, fully unreserved trains and double-decker sleeper coaches on high-density routes, 24X7 helpline for women, local art at stations, dignity for porters and better amenities at pilgrimage centres.
As regards ongoing projects, the minister said contracts for all dedicated freight corridors have been awarded, further connectivity has been provided in the north-eastern states, work is on track for rail projects in Kashmir and bids have been finalised for two loco factories.
Railway Budget’s new schemes
• 100 rail stations to get Wi-Fi this year.
• Indian Railways will provide 17,000 bio-toilets on trains.
• Additional toilets at 475 stations before 2016-17 ends.
• E-catering services to be extended to 408 stations.
• Developing Delhi-Chennai, Kharagpur-Mumbai and Kharagpur-Vijayawada freight corridors on a priority basis.
• To create rail auto hub in Chennai.
• Watchdog proposed for railways.
• FM radio entertainment on trains.
• With new uniforms, railway porter will be called Sahayaks.
• Half of lower berths reserved for senior citizens.
• Baby food at stations, child menu on all trains.
• Local cuisine to be available on trains.
• Ticket cancellation through phone calls.
• To install 1,780 automatic ticketing machines.
• CCTV surveillance in all stations in a phased manner.
• Local art to be highlighted at railway stations.
• Dedicated freight corridors envisaged for North-South, East-West and East Coast alignments.
