Rail Budget 2013: Highlights

Here are the highlights of the Rail Budget 2013 as presented by railway minister P K Bansal:

• No increase in passenger fares.
• 22 new lines to be taken up in 2013-14
• Superfast and Tatkal charges are expected to rise
• 67 new Express trains to be introduced; 27 new passenger trains; run of 58 trains to be extended
• Aadhar Card can be helpful for Railways in many respect, from booking tickets to tracking pension of rail employees, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.
• Indian Railways will run a special luxury coach with the best of ameneties, named ‘Anubhuti’, with select trains
• Indian railways is concerned about the safety of women passengers, and has created 4 companies of women RPF personnel for their safety
• Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year
• The Railway ministry will introduce a Fuel Adjustment Component (FAC) to counter the deregulation of the bulk diesel costs. According to the ministry subsequent to increase in the rates of diesel oil in January 2013 itself has added Rs. 3,300 crore to the fuel bill of Railways, taking away a substantial portion of the additional resources targeted. Besides, electricity tariffs are also revised periodically.
• Rs.6,600 crore increase in earnings from fare adjustment in January
• Rs.63,000 crore investment in 2013-14
• Passenger earnings of Rs 42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14
• Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains
• Indian Railways will set up an employees’ training institute at Secunderabad and strive to fill 1.52 lakh vacancies this year, to add to the “family” of 14 lakh railway employees
• Indian Railways is aware of the problems of the IRCTC website, and will create a Next generatione-ticketing system by end of this year. A project that will allow passengers to book railway tickets from their mobile phones wil be started along with SMS alerts’ system for passengers which will provide updates on reservation status.
• Rs.100 crore expenditure is expected for improving stations in New Delhi.
• Smoke and fire detection system to be envisaged. Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans
• Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up.
• Complementary passes of freedom fighters to be renewed every three years instead of annually and Complementary first class passes for parents of unmarried posthumous awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra.