Railway Budget 2015-16 Highlights
Posted on: 26/Feb/2015 12:30:11 PM
Central Minister Mr.Suresh Prabhu files his first Railway Budget. He starts to read the budget of Railways for 2015-16.
Highlights:
- 95% of common peoples are travelling as passengers in daily trains. we need to give more priority, interest and our grievances to them.
- Railway plays important role in developing the economy of India.
- Investment in railways will create more jobs and environment sustainability.
- 492 sections runs at more than 100% capacity and 228 sections at 80 to 100%.
- Our aim is to increase existing capacity of high density networks in next 5 years.
- Under-investment will led to poor growth of Indian Railways.
- Need to prepare for forward-looking agenda.
- Four goals need to achieve. Goal 1: Customer Experience to boost up, Goal 2: Safer Travel, Goal 3: Modern the Infrastructure and Goal 4: Self-sustain in Finance.
- Operating ratio proposed at 88.5%.
- Need to invest 8.5 Lakh Crores in Next 5 Years to develop Indian Railways.
- Passengers Fares won`t be increased.
- Plan to raise the annual freight capacity to 1.5 billion tonne form 1 billion tonne
- 24*7 helpline 138 will be introduced from 3 Mar 2015. Toll free No.182 for security complaints.
- 17,000 toilets will be replaced in bio-toilets.
- 20% of track lines will be increased to 138,000 kms.
- E-catering system will be introduced in 108 trains as experimental based.
- Working to integrate the best food chains.
- Utilizing the Nirbaya fund for augmenting the safer travel for women.
- Unreserved tickets buying will be made simpler through smartphones or debit cards.
- Onboard Entertainment will be introduced on some Shatabdi Express.
- Operating Cameras will placed on select mainline and ladies compartments.
- Initiating on SMS alert to inform passengers on arrival and departure of trains.
- Operation 5 Mins launched - a passenger travelling unreserved can purchase a ticket within 5 min with special devices.
- Rail cleaning will be outsourced, newly-manufactured coaches will be braille enabled to ease travelling for the blind.
- Passengers can select the food while booking the tickets, experiments can be done in 108 trains.
- Rail tickets can now be booked 120 days in advance.
- Increase of General Coaches in some identified trains for common peoples.
- WiFi services will be made available at 400 railway stations.
- 67% more funds can be allotted for passenger amenities.
- We will work on Swachh Railways and Swachh Bharat.
- Rs 120 crore provided for lifts and escalators at stations to facilitate movements.
- All newly manufactured coaches will now be Braille-enabled.
- Train sets saving 20% journey time, similar to bullet trains to be introduced.
- Fast track highest priority, investment 84% higher; 77 new projects. Estimated cost is over Rs. 96,000 Crore.
- 24 to 26 coaches to be introduced in certain trains.
- Railways is collaborating with NIFT and NID for better bed rolls, inner coach designs.
- Meghalaya has been included in the Railway map of India.
- Railways to introduce satellite railway terminals in major cities, 10 select stations.
- Government to give major thrust to Railway connectivity to North East and J&K.
- Railway to move to paperless ticketing.
- Railway Electrification will be increased to 1330% over previous year.
- Mobile phones charging facilities in all train compartments.
- 9 hi-speed corridors, high speed trains to be introduced.
- Process & procedures simplified to prevent delays.
- For Railway safety, ISRO to be involved; 3438 level crossings to be eliminated.
- Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi-Mumbai overnight journey trains to be introduced.
- Construction of long loop lines will be expedited.
- Plan size increased by 52%; 41.6% GBS; 17.8% internal generation.
- WiFi will be provided at all B category stations.
