Friday, March 1, 2013

Rail Budget 2013: Highlights

Rail Budget 2013: Highlights

February 28th, 2013
 
Highlights of the Rail Budget 2013-14 as presented by Railway Minister Mr. P.K. Bansal relating to the following Headings:
Manufacturing:
  • imageA new wheel factory to be set up at Rae Bareli
  • A greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) manufacturing facility at Bhilwara (Rajasthan) in collaboration with State Government and BHEL.
  • Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up
  • Coach Manufacturing Unit in Sonepat District (Haryana) in collaboration with State Government.
  • A Midlife Rehabilitation Workshop at Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) in
    collaboration with the State Government.
  • Bikaner and Pratapgarh workshops to undertake POH of BG wagons.

  • A workshop for repair and rehabilitation of motorized bogies at Misrod
    (Madhya Pradesh).
  • A new wagon maintenance workshop in Kalahandi (Odisha).
  • A modern signaling equipment facility at Chandigarh through PPP route.
Environment:
  • Railway energy Management Company (REMC) to be set up to harness solar and wind energy
  • 1,000 crossings to be energized by solar power
  • Deployment of new generation energy efficient electric locomotives and EMUs.
  • More usage of agro-based and recycled paper and ban use of plastic in
    catering.
Jobs:
  • 1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up
Technology:
  • Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned
  • Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains
  • e-ticketing via mobile phones
  • SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status
  • Smoke and fire detection system to be installed
  • Internet booking to be strengthened with next-generation e-ticketing system to eliminate delays. Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013
  • 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations
  • Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb feature.
  • Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flash
    butt welding technology.
  • Extension of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Coin-operated Ticket Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and schme of Jan-Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBSs).
Safety:
  • Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans
  • Smoke and fire detection system to be installed
  • Raised four companies of women RPF personnel, and another eight to be raised for women’s safety
  • Seventeen bridges identified for repair
  • Special A/C coaches ‘Anubhuti’, to be introduced in select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with commensurate fareIntroduction of Train Protection Warning System on Automatic
    Signalling Systems.
  • Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb feature.
  • Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flash
    butt welding technology.
  • Use of fire retardant furnishing materials in coaches.
  • Measures initiated to deal with elephant related accidents.
  • Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rail passengers, especially women passengers.
    Recruitment to RPF with 10% vacancies reserved for women.
Introductions:
  • Azadi Express to be introduced to travel to places associated with freedom struggle
  • Common rail-bus ticket to be introduced for Katra-Vaishnodevi pilgrims
  • Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
  • Identification of 104 stations for upgradation in places with more than one million population and of religious significance
  • Special A/C coaches ‘Anubhuti’, to be introduced in select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with commensurate fare
  • Fuel Adjustment Component’ concept to be implemented linking tariffs
    with movement of fuel prices;
Other Targets/Plans:
  • By end of 2013-14, 1,500 km of contracts to be awarded for two dedicated rail corridors
  • Rs 1 lakh crore target set for public-private-partnership route
  • Corporate plan for 10 years to be drawn up
  • Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings
  • Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore
  • Making a Corporate Safety Plan for a ten year period (2014-2024).

  • Funds:
  • Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi.
  • New fund – Debt Service Fund – to be set up to meet committed liabilities of debt servicing for WB and JICA loans for DFC and other future liabilities.
Facts presented:
  • Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US
  • Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13
  • Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore
  • Fall in accidents – per million accidents down from 0.41 to 0.13
  • Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13
  • Operating ratio expected to improve to 87.8 per cent in 2013—14 from 88.8 per cent in the current fiscal
  • 5.2 per cent growth in passenger traffic expected in 2013—14
  • Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US
 

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