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