Parents of Posthumous Unmarried Bravery Awardees to be Extended Facility of Complimentary Card Pass in 1st Class/2nd AC Passes for Freedom Fighters to be Renewed Every 3 Years

The Union Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced the extension of the facility of Complimentary Card pass valid in 1st Class/2nd AC to the parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and Police Medal for Gallantry.

While presenting the Railways Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today he announced that Police Gallantry awardees shall now be granted one Complimentary Pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2 AC in Rajdhani/Shatabdi trains.

Shri Bansal also announced that the requirement of renewal of the passes for freedom fighters is being raised to three years. Presently, freedom fighters are required to renew their passes every year which causes inconvenience to many of them in an advanced age.

Free Medicines for Poor in Rural Areas

In the government health care delivery system, the treatment of diseases is either free or subsidized for the poor and needy patients.

Under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), the drugs are provided free of costs to all TB patients.

Under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) financial assistance up to Rs.1.00 lakh for chemotherapy drugs is provided to treat up to 100 patients in a district.

Financial assistance is also provided to poor patients as under:

 Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG)

Poor patients with family income less than Rs.1,00,000/- annually and suffering from major illness and requiring one-time treatment in Government hospitals/institutions are eligible for financial assistance under HMDG. Financial assistance limits are -  (i)  Rs.50,000/-  if the estimated cost of treatment is up to Rs. 1,00,000/- ; (ii) Rs. 75,000/- if the estimated cost of treatment is above Rs. 1,00,000/- & up to Rs. 1,50,000/-; and (iii) Rs.1,00,000/- if the estimated cost of treatment is above Rs.1,50,000/-.

Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) under RAN

    Financial assistance is provided to patients, below poverty line suffering from Cancer and undergoing treatment in any of the 27 Regional Cancer Centres.

   The financial assistance to the Cancer Patient up to Rs.1,00,000/- (Rs. One lakh only) is processed by the Institute /Hospitals concerned through the revolving fund placed at their disposal.  The cases of financial assistance above this limit are to be referred by the Hospitals for assistance from Central Funds.

 Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) ie. National Illness Assistance Fund (NIAF)

The financial assistance is provided to the patients living Below Poverty Line (BPL), who are suffering from major life threatening disease to receive medical treatment in Government hospitals. The financial assistance to such patients is released in the form of ‘one time grant’ to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital in which the treatment is being received.

Under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), the private hospitals are now expected to provide information to the Government about the TB patients being treated by them.  Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) seeks information from all the States and UTs regarding the patients suffering from severe diseases like cancer, diabetes etc. being treated at Government as well as Private Hospitals.

The above information was given by the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Railway to Introduce Next Generation E-Ticketing System

The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has that his Ministry will put in place a Next Generation e-ticketing system to bring about a paradigm shift in internet rail ticketing. Presenting the Railway Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today he said, the new system will significantly improve the end user experience in respect of ease of use, response time as well as capacity. He said, the new system shall be able to support 7200 tickets per minute as against 2000 tickets per minute at present. It will support 1, 20,000 simultaneous users at any point in time against the present capacity of 40,000 users with capability to easily scale up as demand increases in future. The Minister said, the system will make use of advanced fraud control and security management tools thereby further improving fairness and transparency in disbursal of tickets.

The Minister also announced several IT initiatives for the benefit of passengers. These are:

i. Extending availability of the facility of internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours;

ii. Making e-ticketing possible through mobile phones;

iii. As a follow up to overwhelming response to Indian Railway website and Integrated Train Enquiry Service under “139”, a project of SMS Alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status is being rolled out shortly;

iv. Covering larger number of trains under Real Time Information System (RTIS), whereby rail-users will be able to access information through nominated websites and mobile phones.

Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14

·        67 new Express trains to be introduced

·        26 new passenger services, 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced

·        Run of 57 trains to be extended

·        Frequency of 24 trains to be increased

·        First AC EMU rake to be introduced  on Mumbai suburban network in 2013-14

·        72 additional services to be introduced in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

·        Rake length increased from 9 cars to 12 cars for 80 services in Kolkata and 30 services in Chennai

·        500 km new lines, 750 km doubling, 450 km gauge conversion targeted in 2013-14

·        First ever rail link to connect Arunachal Pradesh

·        Some Railway related activities to come under MGNREGA

·        For the first time 347 ongoing projects identified as priority projects with the committed funding

·        Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 63,363 crore

·        Loan of Rs. 3000 crore repaid fully.

·         A new fund-Debt Service Fund set up to meet committed liabilities.

·        Freight loading of 1047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13

·        Passenger growth 5.2% in 2013-14

·        Gross Traffic Receipts – Rs. 1,43,742 crore i.e. an increase of 18,062 crore over RE, 2012-13

·        Dividend payment estimated at Rs. 6,249 crore

·        Operating Ratio to be 87.8% in 2013-14

·        Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased

·        Fuel Adjustment Component linked revision for freight tariff to be implemented from 1^st April 2013

·        Enhanced reservation fee abolished

·        Elimination of 10797 Level Crossings (LC) during the 12^th Plan and no addition of new LCs henceforth

·        Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains

·        ‘Aadhar’ to be used for various passenger and staff related services

·        Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours

·        E-ticketing through mobile phones

·        Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status

·        Next –Gen e-ticketing system to be rolled out : capable of handling 7200 tickets per minute against 2000 now,  1.20 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 now

·        Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations: Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru

·        Introduction of ‘Azadi Express’ to connect places associated with freedom movement

·        Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rain passengers, especially women passengers

·        10% RPF vacancies being reserved for women

·        1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged

·        Railways to impart skills to the youth in railway related trades in 25 locations

·        Provision of portable fire extinguishers in Guard-cum-Brake Vans, AC Coaches and Pantry Cars in all trains

·        Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback

·        Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains

·        Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains

·        Upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected

·        Introduction of an ‘Anubhuti’ coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services

·        179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently-abled

·         Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly

·        Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321)

·        Complimentary card passes to recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Dhyan Chand Awards to be valid for travel by 1^st Class/2^nd AC

·        Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

·        Travel by Duronoto Trains permitted on all card passes issued to sportspersons having facility of travel by Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

·        Facility of complimentary card passes valid in 1^st class/2^nd AC extended to parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and policy medal for Gallantry

·         Policy Gallantry awardees to be granted one complimentary pass every year for travel along with one companion in ^2nd AC in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

·        Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years instead of every year.

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

·        Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for training in rail related electronics technologies

·        Setting up of a centralized training institute at Secunderabad--Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management

·        Five fellowships in national universities to be instituted to motivate students to study and undertake research on Railway related issues at M.Phil and Ph.D. levels

·        Fund allocation for staff quarters enhanced to Rs. 300 crore

·        Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all divisional headquarters

·        Provision of water closets and air conditioners in the locomotive cabs to avoid stress being faced by loco pilots

Pawan Kumar Bansal announce increase in frequency of 24 trains

The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced increase in frequency of 24 trains while presenting the Railway Budget 2013-14 in Parliament today.  These trains are:-

1.        12547/12548 Agra Fort -Ahmedabad Express 3 to 7 days

2.        11453/11454 Ahrnedabad-Nagpur Express 2 to 3 days

3.        22615/22616 Coimbatore-Tirupati Express 3 to 4 days

4.        14037/14038 Delhi-Pathankot Express 3 to 6 days

5.        19409/19410 Gorakhpur - Ahmedabad Express 1 to 2 days

6.        13465/13466 Howrah - Malda Town Express 6 to 7 days

7.        12159/12160 Jabalpur - Amravati Express 3 to 7 days

8.        11103/11104 Jhansi - Bandra (T) Express 1 to 2 days

9.        19325/19326 Indore - Amritsar Express 1 to 2 days

10.      12469/12470 Kanpur - Jammu Tawi Express 1 to 2 days

11.      12217/12218 Kochuveli - Chandigarh Express 1 to 2 days

12.      12687/12688 Madurai - Dehradun/Chandigarh Express 1 to 2 days

13.      13409/13410 Malda Town - Jamalpur Express 6 to 7 days

14.       17213/17214 Narsapur - Nagersol (Near Sainagar Shirdi) Express 2 to 7

           days

15.      12877/12878 Ranchi-New Delhi Garib Rath Express 2 to 3 days

16.       18509/18510 Visakhapatnam - Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express 2 to 3

           days

17.       22819/22820 Visakhapatnam - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express 2 to 7 days

18.      18309/18310 Sambalpur-Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express 2 to 3 days

19.      12751/12752 Secunderabad - Manuguru Express 3 to 7 days

20.       12629/12630 Yesvantpur - Hazrat Nizamuddun Sampark Kranti Express

            2 to 4 days

21.       56221/56222/56525/56526 Bangalore - Tumkur Passenger 6 to 7 days

22.      56321 Kanniyakumari-Tirunelveli Passenger 6 to 7 days

23.      56325 Nagercoil - Kanniyakumari Passenger 6 to 7 days

24.      56312 Tirunelveli - Nagercoil Passenger 6 to 7 days

Seven New Lines to be Constructed

Seven New Lines to be Constructed
Doubling of ten Lines Approved

The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced construction of seven new lines and doubling of ten lines  while presenting the Railway Budget 2013-14 in Parliament today:-

New Lines

1.       Bhupdeopur-Raigarh (Mand Colliery) (through PPP);

2.       Gevra Road-Pendra Road (through PPP)

3.       Jaisalmer (Thiyat Hamira)-Sanu;

4.       Karaikal-Peralam;

5.       Rewari-Rohtak new line extension up to Makrauli;

6.       Sultanpur to Kadipur;

7.       Thanjavur-Pattukkottai.

Gauge conversion

Mavli-Bari Sadri section.

Doubling

1.       Alwar-Bandikui;

2.       Chennai Central-Basin Bridge Junction (5th & 6th lines);

3.       Danea-Ranchi Road;

4.       Dapper-Chandigarh;

5.       Garhwa Road-Ramna;

6.       Hajipur-Ramdayalu;

7.       Jarangdih- Danea;

8.       Palanpur- Samakhiali (through PPP);

9.       Rae Bareli - Amethi;

10.     Vatva-Ahmedabad (3rd line).

Electrification

1.       Delhi Sarai Rohilla - Rewari - Palanpur - Ahmedabad including Kalol-Gandhinagar-Khodiyar and Alwar-Bandikui-Jaipur-Phulera

2.      Jakhal-Hisar

3.      Jakhal-Dhuri-Ludhiana

4.      Rajpura-Dhuri-Lehra Mohabhat

5.      Singapur Road-Damanjodi

In addition, the Minister has also proposed to take up   22 projects of new lines and one gauge conversion project on socio-economic consideration and one doubling project after obtaining necessary approvals/clearances. These are:

New Lines

1.       Ajmer-Kota (Nasirabad-Jalindri)

2.       Anandnagar-Ghugli via Maharajganj

3.       Barwadih-Chirmiri

4.       Chickballapur-Gowribidanur.

5.       Chickballapur-Puttapurthy-Sri Satya Sai Nilayam

6.       Chola-Bulandshahar

7.       Cumbum-Proddatur

8.       Delhi-Sohna-Nuh-Firozpur Jhirka-Alwar

9.       Dimapur - Tizit

10.     Faizabad-Lalganj via Akbarganj, Maharajganj and Rae Bareli

11.     Firozpur-Patti

12.     Gadag-Wadi

13.     Hissar-Sirsa via Agroha & Fatehabad

14.     Kapilvastu-Basti via Bansi

15.     Kondapalli-Kothagudem

16.     Manuguru-Ramagundam

17.     Pirpainti-jasidih

18.     Pushkar-Merta

19.     Raipur-Jharsuguda

20.     Srinivasapura-Madanapalli

21.     Sriperambudur-Guduvanchery with spur to Irun, Kartukotti-         Avadi.

22.     Yamuna Nagar-Chandigarh via Sadhaura, Narayangarh

.  

 Gauge Conversion

Nagpur-Nagbhir

Doubling

   New Bongaigaon to Kamakhya via Rangia

Introduction of 67 new Express trains, 26 passenger trains, 5 MEMU services and 8 DEMU services

The Minister of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has announced the introduction of 67 new Express trains, 26 passenger trains, 5 MEMU services and 8 DEMU services  while presenting the Railway Budget 2013-14 in Parliament today:-

Express trains

    

1.                 Ahmedabad - Jodhpur Express (Weekly) Via Samdari, Bhildi

2.                 Ajni (Nagpur) - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express (Weekly) Via Hingoli

3.                 Amritsar - Lalkuan Express (Weekly) Via Chandigarh

4.                 Bandra Terminus - Ramnagar Express (Weekly) Via Nagda, Mathura,

Kanpur, Lucknow, Rampur

5.                 Bandra Terminus - Jaisalmer Express (Weekly) Via Marwar, Jodhpur

6.                 Bandra Terminus - Hisar Express (Weekly) Via Ahmedabad, Palanpur,

Marwar, Jodhpur, Degana

7.                 Bandra Terminus - Haridwar Express (Weekly) Via Valsad

8.                 Bangalore - Mangalore Express (Weekly)

9.                 Bathinda - Jammu Tawi Express (Weekly) Via Patiala, Rajpura

10.            Bhubaneswar - Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (Weekly) Via Sambalpur

11.            Bikaner - Chennai AC Express (Weekly) Via Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur,

Nagda, Bhopal, Nagpur

12.            Chandigarh -Amritsar Intercity Express (Daily) Via Sahibzada Ajitsingh

Nagar (Mohali), Ludhiana

13.            Chennai - Karaikudi Express (Weekly)

14.            Chennai - Palani Express (Daily) Via Jolarpettai, Salem, Karur,

Namakkal

15.            Chennai Egmore - Thanjavur Express (Daily) Via Villupuram,

Mayiladuthurai

16.            Chennai - Nagarsol (For Sai Nagar Shirdi) Express (Weekly) Via

Renigunta, Dhone, Kacheguda

17.            Chennai - Velankanni Link Express (Daily) Via Villupuram,  

Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur

18.      Coimbatore - Mannargudi Express (Daily) Via Tiruchchirappalli,

          Thanjavur, Nidamangalam

19.      Coimbatore - Rameswaram Express (Weekly)

20.      Delhi - Firozpur Intercity Express (Daily) Via Bathinda

21.       Delhi Sarai Rohilla - Sikar Express (Bi-weekly) after gauge conversion

22.      Delhi - Hoshiarpur Express (Weekly)

23.      Durg - Jaipur Express (Weekly)

24.      Gandhidham - Visakhapatnam Express (Weekly) Via Ahmedabad,

           Wardha, Ballarshah, Vijaywada

25.      Hazrat Nizamuddin - Mumbai AC Express (Weekly) via Bhopal,

           Khandwa, Bhusawal

26.      Howrah - Chennai AC Express (Bi-weekly) Via Bhadrak, Duvvada,

           Gudur

27.      Howrah - New Jalpaiguri AC Express (Weekly) Via Malcia Town

28.      Hubli - Mumbai Express (Weekly) Via Miraj, Pune

29.      Indore - Chandigarh Express (Weekly) Via Dewas, Ujjain, Guna,

           Gwalior, Hazrat Nizamuddin

30.     Jabalpur - Yesvantpur Express (Weekly)Via Nagpur, Dharmavaram

31.      Jaipur - Lucknow Express (Tri-weekly) Via Bandikui, Mathura, Kanpur

32.     Jaipur-Alwar Express (Daily)

33.     Jodhpur -Jaipur Express (Daily) Via Phulera

34.     Jodhpur - Kamakhya (Guwahati) Express (Weekly) Via Degana,

          Ratangarh

35.      Kakinada - Mumbai Express (Bi-weekly)

36.       Kalka - Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Bi-weekly) Via Hazrat Nizamuddin,

           Bhopal, Itrasi

37.     Kamakhya (Guwahati) - Anand Vlhar Express (Weekly) Via Katihar,

          Barauni, Sitapur Cantt, Moradabad

38.      Kamakhya (Guwahati) - Bangalore AC Express (Weekly)

39.      Kanpur - Anand Vihar Express (Weekly) Via Farrukhabad

40.      Katihar - Howrah Express (Weekly) Via Malda Town

41.      Katra - Kalka Express (Bi-weekly) Via Morinda

42.      Kolkata - Agra Express (Weekly) Via Amethi, Rae Bareli, Mathura

43.       Kolkata - Sitamarhi Express (Weekly) Via Jhajha, Barauni, Darbhanga

44.      Kota - Jammu Tawi Express (Weekly) Via Mathura, Palwal

45.      Kurnool Town - Secunderabad Express (Daily)

46.      Lokmanya Tilak (T) - Kochuveli Express (Weekly)

47.      Lucknow - Varanasi Express Via Rae-Bareli (6 Days a week)

48.      Madgaon - Mangalore Intercity Express (Daily) Via Udupi, Karwar

49.      Mangalore - Kacheguda Express (Weekly) Via Dhone, Gooty,

           Renigunta, Coirnbatore

50.      Mau - Anand Vihar Express (Bi-weekly)

51.      Mumbai - Solapur Express (6 Days a week) Via Pune

52.       Nagercoil - Bangalore Express (Daily) Via Madurai, Tiruchchirappalli

53.      New Delhi - Katra AC Express (6 Days a week)

54.      Nizamabad - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express (Weekly)

55.      Patna - Sasaram Intercity Express (Daily) Via Ara

56.      Patliputra (Patna) - Bangalore Express (Weekly) Via Chheoki

57.      Puducherry - Kanniyakumari Express (Weekly) Via Villupuram,

           Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchchirappalli

58.      Puri - Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Weekly) Via Sambalpur, Titlagarh,  

           Raipur, Nagpur, Bhusawal

59.      Puri -Ajmer Express (Weekly) Via Abu-Road

60.      Radhikapur - Anand Vihar Link Express (Daily)

61.       Rajendra Nagar Terminus (Patna)- New Tinsukia Express (Weekly) Via  

           Katihar/ Guwahati

62.      Tirupati - Puducherry Express (Weekly)

63.      Tirupati - Bhubaneswar Express (Weekly) Via Visakhapatnam

64.      Una / NangaJdam- Hazoor Saheb Nanded Express (Weekly) Via    

  Anandpur Saheb, Morinda, Chandigarh, Ambala

65.      Visakhapatnam - Jodhpur Express (Weekly) Via Titlagarh, Raipur

66.      Visakhapatnam - Kollam Express (Weekly)

67.      Yesvantpur - Lucknow Express (Weekly) via Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh

Passenger Trains

1.       Bathinda - Dhuri Passenger (Daily)

2.       Bikaner-Ratangarh Passenger (Daily)

3.       Bhavnagar - Palitana Passenger (Daily)

4.       Bhavnagar - Surendranagar Passenger (Daily)

5.       Bareilly - Lalkuan Passenger (Daily)

6.       Chhapra -Thawe Passenger (Daily)

7.       Loharu - Sikar Passenger (Daily) after gauge conversion

8.       Madgaon - Ratnagiri Passenger (Daily)

9.       Marikuppam - Bangalore Passenger (Daily)

10.     Muzaffarpur - Sitamarhi Passenger (Daily) via Runnisaidpur

11.     Nadiad - Modasa Passenger (6 days a week)

12.     Nandyal - Kurnool Town passenger (Daily)

13.     New Amravati - Narkher Passenger (Daily)

14.     Punalur - Kollam Passenger (Daily)

15.     Purna - Parli Vaijnath Passenger (Daily)

16.     Palani-Tiruchendur Passenger (Daily)

17.     Ratangarh - Sardarsahar Passenger (Daily) after gauge conversion

18.     Samastipur- Banmankhi Passenger via Saharsa, Madhepura (Daily) after gauge conversion

19.     Shoranur - Kozhikode Passenger (Daily)

20.     Surendranagar - Dharangdhara Passenger (Daily)

21.     Suratgarh - Anupgarh Passenger (Daily)

22.     Somnath - Rajkot Passenger (Daily)

23.     Sitamarhi - Raxaul Passenger (Daily)

24.         Sriganganagar - Hanumangarh-Sadulpur Passenger (Daily) after gauge conversion

25.      Talguppa - Shimoga Town Passenger (Daily)

26.      Thrisur-Guruvayur Passenger (Daily)

MEMU Services

1.       Barabanki - Kanpur

2.       Chennai - Tirupati

3.       Delhi- Rohtak (Replacement of conventional service by MEMU)

4.       Lucknow - Hardoi

5.      Sealdah - Berhampore Court

DEMU Services

1.       Bhatkal - Thokur

2.       Delhi - Kurukshetra Via Kaithal

3.       Katwa - Jangipur

4.       Lucknow - Sultanpur

5.       Lucknow - Pratapgarh Via Gauriganj

6.       Madgaon - Karwar

7.       Rohtak - Rewari

8.       Taran Taran - Goindwal Saheb

Rail Budget Lays Thrust on Safety, Consolidation, Improving Passenger Amenities and Fiscal Discipline
Operting Ratio Likely to Improves to 87.8% In 2013-14
Highest Ever Plan Outlay of Rs. 63,363 Crore
Increase in Passenger Fare Absorbed
10 Year Perspective Plan to be Taken up on Safety
E-Ticketing Through Mobile; Sms Alert to Passengers For Reservation Update

The Railway Budget 2013-14 presented by the Railway Minister Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal in the Parliament lays thrust on safety, consolidation, improving passenger amenities and fiscal discipline.

The budget has absorbed the increase in passenger tariff due to increase in diesel prices but has proposed minor increase in supplementary charges for super fast trains and Tatkal charges etc. It has proposed FAC-linked revision in freight tariff only.

The Budget has proposed working expenses of Rs. 96,500 crore against the Gross Traffic Receipts of Rs. 1,43,742 crore for the year. The Railway Minister has proposed that appropriation to the Pension Fund of Railway Employees to Rs. 22,000 crore while appropriation to Depreciation Reserve Fund to Rs. 7,500 crore. With these proposals Railways expected to close the year 2013-14 with a balance of Rs. 12,506 crore in the Railway Fund.

Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has proposed highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 63,363 crore for 2013-14 which will be financed through Gross Budgetary Support of Rs. 26,000 crore and internal resources of 14,260 crore. Market borrowing of Rs.15,103 crore, Railways share in Road Safety Fund of Rs.2000 and Rs.6000 crore will also be mobilized through PPP mode to finance operations of Railways during the year.

Due to the financial discipline railways has been able to fully repay its loan of Rs. 3,000 crore and its operating ratio during the 2013-14 is expected to increase to 87.8% as compared to 88.8% in 2011-12.

The budget has proposed number of measures to improve passenger amenities including IT enable services for reservations and new trains.

Recommendations from UPSC

No request was received from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) regarding delinking of schedule languages from its scheme of examination. However, Department of Personnel & Training (DOPT) had forwarded to this Ministry for comments, the recommendations of the High Level Standing Committee which had been appointed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in July, 2009 to examine the modalities for implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Resolution of 1968. According to the Resolution, languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution and English shall be permitted as alternative media for the All India and higher Central Services examination after ascertaining the views of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on the future scheme of the examinations, the procedural aspects and the timing etc.

The recommendations of the said Committee are enclosed in Annexure. The Ministry of Home Affairs had agreed with the recommendations.

Recommendations of the High Level Committee appointed by the Union Public Service Commission

(i) The language adopted by the UPSC for conducting its examination should be based on their growth in the higher educational system and the inclusion of a language in the Eighth Schedule should not be the only basis for its adoption by the UPSC in its All India and Higher Central Services Examinations.

(ii) All candidates should have the option to write Civil Services Examination either in Hindi or English.

(iii) The candidates in the Civil Services Examination should be allowed to write their papers (other than the Indian Language and English Compulsory Papers) in any of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution provided the candidate has had her/his graduation in that particular language medium of examination.

(iv) In the interest of maintaining the equality and standards of examination conducted by UPSC, a minimum number of 25 (twenty five) candidates will be required for conducting examination in any one language.

(v) Considering the dynamics of growth of languages in the higher education system, UPSC may review the above policy after a gap of three years.

This was stated by Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri RPN Singh in Lok Sabha today.

NSPCL CEO conferred Exemplary Leader Award

Shri Vishwaroop, CEO, NTPC SAIL Power Company (NSPCL) has been conferred with “Exemplary Leader Award” by World HRD Congress “Global HR Excellence Awards”held in Mumbai. Shri Vishwaroop has been honored for his contribution to the Power Sector.

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council

  The term of office of 10 members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly,

                   is going to expire on the dates mentioned against their names due to their retirement, as detailed below :-

S.No.	Name of the Member	Date of Retirement
	Sh. Cherupally Seetha Ramulu	29.03.2013
	Sh. Jalli Wilson	29.03.2013
	Ms. Laxmi Durgesh Prasad Kandula	29.03.2013
	Sh. S. Indrasain Reddy	29.03.2013
	Ms. Bharathi Dhiravat	29.03.2013
	Sh. P. Yadagiri	29.03.2013
	Sh. Sidda Raghava Rao	29.03.2013
	Sh. Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Masquati	29.03.2013
	Sh. Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy	29.03.2013
	Sh. Pulla Padmavathi	29.03.2013

2.      The Commission has decided to hold Biennial Election to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council by the Members of Legislative

                 Assembly to fill up above mentioned vacancies so arising, in accordance with the following programme:-

S.No.	Event	Schedule
1.	Issue of Notification	4th March, 2013 (Monday)
2.	Last date of making nominations	11th March, 2013 (Monday)
3.	Scrutiny of nominations	12th March, 2013 (Tuesday)
4.	Last date for withdrawal of candidatures	14th March,  2013 (Thursday)
5.	Date of poll	21th March, 2013 (Thursday)
6.	Hours of Poll	From 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M.
7.	Counting of Votes	21th March, 2013 (Thursday) at 5 P.M.
8.	Date before which election shall be completed	25th March, 2013 (Monday)