Highlights of Railway Budget for FY 2009-10

Presenting the Railway Budget for the fiscal year 2009-10 in Parliament on Friday, the Union Minister of Railways, Mamata Banerjee announced that there will be no increase in passenger fare and freight tariff. She said that the Budget will have approach for ‘inclusive growth’ and expansion of rail network to take development to every corner of the country.

Banerjee proposed an outlay of Rs.40,745 crores for 2009-10. Out of this, Rs.2,921 crores will be spent on new lines, Rs.1,750 crores on gauge conversion and Rs.1,102 crores on passenger amenities, which is 119% more than the allocation in the interim budget. Rs.424 crores will also be spent on railway staff amenities. She proposed freight loading target of 882 MT and estimated gross freight receipt at Rs.88,419 crores.

Giving an overview of financial performance of the Railways in 2008-09, the Railway Minister informed that freight loading during the period grew by 5% while traffic receipt increased by 11.4% to reach Rs.79,862 crores.

* No increase in passenger fare and freight tariff
* Budget to have inclusive growth and expansion of railway network to every corner of the country
* Plan outlay of Rs.40,745 cr. Proposed for 2009-10
* Passenger amenities get high priority, to get 119% increase
* Traffic receipts during 2008-09 increase by 11.4 % while freight loading grew @ 5%
* Special trains for perishable farm produce, facilities for transportation of rural craft
* Works for 7 new lines, gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13 lines to be taken up
* Faster parcel services proposed on three routes
* Tatkal scheme to be made passenger friendly
* Railway tickets to be made available through post offices and ‘Mushkil Aasaan’ mobile vans
* Concession for press persons increased to 50%
* Monthly ticket of Rs. 25 for unorganized sector/poor under ‘Izzat’ scheme
* Only Ladies EMU trains at Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai
* ‘Yuva Trains’ from rural hinterland to metros at concessional fare
* 12 new point-to-point ‘Duranto’ trains
* 57 new trains, extension of 27 trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains and air-conditioned double-decker trains proposed
* 50 stations to be upgraded to world class stations
* Long distance trains to have on-board doctors and infotainment services
* Handicapped and aged persons to have more amenities
* Special trains to ferry perishable agro products and rural handicrafts
* Special fund for the development of north east railway
* Quazigund-Anantnag line to be completed by next month
* 6560 railway staff quarters to be constructed and group ‘d’ employees to get scholarships for their girl child
* Railways to come out with while paper on financial status and vision-2020 document