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:

• A 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