| Font Size |
Presenting the Budget for 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha, the first after UPA's return to power, she also announced concessions for unorganised sector by proposing monthly season ticket of Rs 25 for people with monthly income of up to Rs 1,500 for travel up to 100 kms.
Her proposals included introduction of 57 new train services, extension of 27 new trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains and making 'Tatkal' scheme more user-friendly by reducing the advance booking period from five days to two days and minimum charge from Rs 150 to Rs 100.
The sops also covered students of Madrassas to whom concessions will be extended. Concessional monthly season tickets to students in Kolkata will be applicable for travel in the Kolkata Metro Rail also.
The Budget estimates for 2009-10 projects a freight loading target of 882 million tonnes, an increase of 49 million tonnes and a six per cent increase in the number of passengers.
Gross traffic receipts have been estimated at Rs 88,419 crore, which is Rs 8,557 crore more than 2008-09.
Ordinary working expenses have been budgeted at Rs 62,900 crore to cover the full year impact of the Sixth Pay Commission and payment of arrears due in 2009-10.
Dividend payable to general revenues has been kept at Rs 5,479 crore while the Railways have got an additional budgetary support of Rs 5,000 crore.
Announcing "landmark" initiatives, Banerjee said that dedicated freight corridors have been declared as 'Diamond Rail Corridors' while foundation was being laid for development of Eastern Industrial Corridor along side the Eastern Freight Corridor.
Railway land banks will be set up to catalyse development in the corridors.
The Minister announced setting up of a new coach factory at Kanchrapara-Halisahar Railway Complex in West Bengal with annual capacity of 500 electrical multiple units (EMUs) and MEMUs and Metro coaches in joint venture private-partnership mode.
She also proposed introduction of "Only Ladies" EMU trains in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban during office rush hours and 'Yuva' trains which will be new low-cost air-conditioned seated accommodation trains dedicated to youth and low-income groups.
They will run from rural hinterland to major cities and metros on fares ranging from Rs 299 up to 1500 kms to Rs 399 up to 2500 kms. Weekly service on pilot basis will be introduced within three months between Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata.
While the concessional monthly season ticket pass for the unorganised sector has been named 'Izzat' (dignity), the 12 non-stop point-to-point train services have been named 'Duronto' (quick).
Promising inclusive growth and expansion of rail network to reach development to every corner, Banerjee said the "so-called economically unviable but socially desired projects" will be viewed with social perspective to benefit backward areas and the underprivileged.
An expert committee to advise her is being set up for suggesting innovative financing and implementation of such projects.
She said priority will be given to effect perceptible improvement in cleanliness, quality of railway catering, safety and security and punctuality.
Strict monitoring will focus on extensive availability of 'janata khana' (low-cost meals), national and regional cuisines, development of 50 stations as world class stations and upgrading of 375 stations as 'adarsh' (model) stations.
Construction of multi-functional complexes will be undertaken at 50 stations serving centres of pilgrimage, tourism and industry. They will have shopping facilities, food stalls and budget hotels.
Banerjee also announced 'on-board house-keeping scheme' to cover 200 additional pairs of trains, improved linen management with modern, mechanised automated laundries and on-board availability of doctors in long-distance trains.
Ambulance services would be provided in seven cities to start with.
On board infotainment services will be provided in important long distance inter-city trains while toilet facilities will be introduced in Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit and MEMU trains with journey time of more than two hours.
The budget also proposed opening of 1000 new passenger reservation locations and expansion of unreserved ticketing system from 5000 to 8000 locations. Automated ticket-vending machines will be installed at 200 large and medium-sized stations.
Taking ticketing to 'ma maati manush' (mother, land and people), Banerjee said issue of computerised tickets at post offices and mobile ticketing service vans was being considered.
As a measure of enhancing safety and security, she said there will be timely track renewal, modernisation of signals and use of digital ultrasonic flaw detectors. Integrated security scheme will be introduced in 140 vulnerable and sensitive railway stations and women RPF squads will be deployed for security of women passengers.
In freight and parcel business, the minister said premium service for container movement with assured transit time was being considered. Private ownership of special purpose rolling stock for commodities and private operation of freight terminals will be encouraged.
Mega logistic hubs are being planned along side eastern and western dedicated freight corridors.
Under the 'Kisan Vision Project', special trains will be run from production clusters to consumer centres for perishable products like fruits and vegetables and also for village handicrafts to increase outreach and access to new markets for rural produce.
Temperature-controlled cargo centres will be encouraged and premium parcel services named 'Faster Parcel Services' on pilot basis on three routes -- Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah, will be introduced with guaranteed time transit.
Annual Plan for Railways for 2009-10 has been fixed at Rs 40,745 crore, which is an increase of Rs 2,840 crore on interim budget for the current year.
Outlay on new lines has been pegged at Rs 2,921 crore, while for gauge conversion, it is Rs 1,750 crore. Passenger amenities will get Rs 1,102 crore. A sum of Rs 335 crore has been allocated for staff quarters and Rs 424 crore for amenities.
The Plan also includes acquisition of 18000 wagons in the current year as against 11,000 in 2008-09. An additional budgetary support of Rs 1,949 crore has been sought for 11 national projects.
An expert committee under Sam Pitroda, who headed the National Knowledge Commission, is being set up to suggest innovations to utilise optic cable network of railways for taking information technology to doorsteps in remote areas.
The minister said that there was a proposal under consideration for takeover of units of Burn Standard and Braithwaite.
Dealing with financial performance in 2008-09, Banerjee said freight loading was recorded at 833 million tonnes, an increase of five per cent over the previous year.
Traffic receipts also increased by 11.4 per cent to reach Rs 79,862 crore. Cash surplus before dividend was Rs 17,400 crore, after disbursing Rs 13,600 crore towards Pay Commission.
Railways paid full dividend liability of Rs 4717 crore to government and generated investible surplus of Rs 12,681 crore. Annual Plan expenditure was Rs 36,336 crore.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
What about some toilets by the rail lines in Mumbai? Not on the rail lines, please note. Or you are blind to the mess wreaked there every morning?
It is so unfortunate that A.P is totally ignored while M.ps of this biggest state is totally impotents not to fight for any new railway line, connecting Secrudrabad to Karimnagar Via Siddipet, which gives more fiscal benifits and reduces the transportation problems. So unfortunate not to lay new lines with new connections in Rail industry. It is shame not to ask by these M.Ps of this Andhra Pradesh state, acting more perfidious to the people of this impoverished state and nation. It is so reprehesnisble act by these elected ones. I knew it through Teja T.V, I live in Winterville North carolina. I am a US citizen. These Politicians need to quit greed and fight for the state.....Kishen c.rao/Venky-villa, 116 berkhire dr, winterville, nc, 28590 USA.....
Mamata didi, might have presented a good/ acceptable budget of her career and the recent budget may be quite charming to many people. But, this is one of the most disappointing budgets ever presented by any of the RMs, especially its disappointing to the Maharashtra people. No any provision for new railway links/ routes, neither any provision for pending links electrification and or doubling of single lines nor anything for gauge conversion. The most awaited new rail link Jalgaon-Ajanta-Aurangabad-Beed-Osmanabad-Solapur (which will connect the world heritage and monument Ajanta Caves to Indian rail network) is not given any consideration neither any provision/ funds allotted for the doubling of Udhana-Jalgaon line(joining two main trunk lines) and Manmad-Daund link.No announcements made in regards of the Manmad-Dhule-Indore new railway link (pending since 5 decades). No new trains introduced for inter-Maharashtra state viz, Nagpur/Gondia-Ratnagiri VidharbhaSagar Exp,...
Mamta Bannerjee has come out with really a good railway budget. She also plans for new trains. I fail to understand what does she mean by world class stations. Today, most of the developed countries use airplanes, cars, like means for travelling. They hardly think of developing new trains or railways and train stations. They develop most modern airplanes, airports, cars with latest technology, and comforts with safety. If an underdeveloped country claims that they have excelent, modern bullock carts or highest number of bicycles, it is not a prestigeous issue. It is o.k. that we need trains because very few people can efford to travel by air and use cars. I think, our government should start claiming of world class, international levels only if it is a comparable issue with other countries. Actually, we need to improve our overall standards of Air India, Air India Express and International Airports in Ahmedabad and other places which are not even comparable to underdeveloped countries.
IR should earn first - this earning could be spent for social causes. By converting IR into employment bureau,or by having various concessions IR is only complicating the work of executing staff.Coaches are stinking, in 2ac class nobody wants to take side births, still they exist. Minister has taken for granted that Indian public can travel like animals packed in wagons, and they are happy if the fare is not increased over years.Instead please try to give service and you will see public pays for it. She forgets that India is emerging as a major tourist destination.These tourists when see the deplorable condition of sanitation and services, carry back with them a picture of Tajmahal along with photo of a man taking bath at Mughalsarai Railway station. Are we proud of this pathetic situation? Should we not try to educate mases that Platforms are not bathing places? IA said tata to TATAs, for a foolish doctrine socialism - IR too will go down drains if not run as comm. organisation.
The minister for railway introduced a new type of concession on increasing superstition for attending MADRASSA education. Is it is type of empowering science and technology empowerment...It is undoubtedly say that any religion increase science thought. This type of concession will lead India to a darken age
WILL RAILWAY MINISTRY DO SOMETHING FOR POOR RAILWAY COOLIES . WHY CANNOT BE THEY ASSIGNED SPECIAL TROLIES WHICH THEY CAN USE TO CART THE LUGGAGE IF NOTHING ELSE , FOR HOW LONG BARBARIC TRADITION OF CARRYING LUGGAGE ON HEAD WILL CONTINUE ? WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES FOR NEGLECTING POOR MAL NOURISHED COOLIES USED LIKE ROBOTS TO CART LUGGAGE , WHEN WILL MONDSET OF INDIAN GOVT AND BUREOCRATS CHANGE ? IS ANYBODY LISTENING THE VOICE OF THESE POOR UNDERPOWERED PEOPLE ??
Excellent objectives with a historic investment. We must ensure accountability for this huge expenditure of the taxpayers' money by having a special group of watchdogs with guidelines from the Controller and Auditor General of India. It will ease the taxpayers' minds, by keeping those ready and greedy hounds to have their share in the bonanza. It will make it so much easier, to control scams before the projects take off ; fruitless and endless inquiries, cmmissions and committees will be obviated.
A very good West Bengal Railway Budget! It is a waste to have three junk ministries - Civil Aviation, Railways, Shipping and Surface Transport! All are criminals hell bent upon wasting public money.
The railway budget is no doubt nice that there is no increase in either passenger or goods freight. I Request Hon. Mamata Banerjee to give instruction to the entire railway to run the trains in time. it is just useless to run many trains without being punctual. It should be endevour of Railway Ministry that all the trains should be punctual. There are trains which has never run in time for last 2-3 years and DRMs are proud of it too. Responsibility should be fixed on the concerned control room staff and DRM of the division for late running of any train particularly DMU, EMU where there is no toilets
Mamta, quit spending scarce resources for window dressing like world class railway stations and world class trains. What we need is more rural routes and more passenger trains because, rail transport is by far the most affordable in India.
The southern state of kerala has always been ignored. There has been a demand for intra city trains for a long time there. The daily commuters there are finding it immensly difficult to travel on a daily basis. There hasnt been a single railway budget that has given any thought to this state. Also he coach factory that was supposed to come in Palakkad(kerala) hasnt seen the light of day. The railway budget proposed seems to be a budget that is solely for the state of west bengal. This budget seems more like a state budget focusing on developing west bengal rather than a central budget meant for the entire country.
She has announced a good number of new trains’ concept of ‘TURANT’ point to point service is good but fare structure of such trains and time of journey whether they are faster than Rajdhani train or not is not indicated. She has provided ‘IJAAT’ journey season tickets for poor people at very subsidized rate or Rs 25 per month. She has also taken care of youths by providing higher concessions to students and has included madersa student in the concessional list. Mumbaikar have received three ‘TURANT’ trains but there is absolutely nothing regarding the betterment of the ‘Life line of Mumbai’ the suburban services which are getting over crowded day by day. Reduction is the time limit of TATKAL is appreciated. The programs announced indicate no time limit of completion. Nashik-Pune railway route is appreciated.
Mamata-di has done a very good work. Its definitely a pro-people budget in line with her Ma-Maati-Manush dogma. Its not how many trains or stations Railway Dept has planned for future, it is the very railway "karmachari" that make the whole existing Railway system an unwanted experience. The mindset of these very "karmacharis" are as if they are in Govt. service and thus have no responsibility to serve the passengers. They forget that its a service sector, unlike any other regular Govt sector,from the passengers money they earn their salary. I request the Railway to have these 5 points in their karmachari's mind: i) Clean Station
Mamati must be not knowing how to calcuate all the job must have been done by the financial controller. All what she must have done is carried all the budget paper and placed them at the budget section. I wish Mamata travel one day during peak hrs and try to catch a local train in Mumbai. Most of the time people of Mumbai have been ignored time and again by Railway ministers where there is no proper faciilities by travelling by local trains in Mumbai
From last 5years AP was not given any priority on the Railway budget, this time we have sent 32 mp's to the parliament and even this time also we have not got any good news. If this is the scenario i am telling being a congress supporter( all my family members vote for only congress from the time they have got the vote rights) i will inform all my friends and family not to vote for congress next time. I think our CM and our MP's should voice out the same in the parliament session on the same else i am sure next time even if state government does well we will vote for congress at state level and for parliament we will not vote for congress.
Continuing the glorious tradition of her predecessors, the Mumbai commuter train system is completely ignored in this budget. Recently a 17000000000 Rs. were spent on a bridge in Mumbai even if a fraction of that cost was spent on 'local trains' a lot would have been achieved. I denounce this budget, I hope the Congress MP's raise the cause of Mumbai locals.
respeced mamtaji kindly run the Kochuveli-Dehradun train at least thrice in a week. god bless youjohn mathew
MAMTAJI forget about Gujarat as there is no special treatment, seems injustice to Gujarat. What about the third sleeping arranged by Lallu, which was more inconvenient which is to be removed.
I heartly congratulate Mamtaji, on taking over as a First Railway Minister in second term of UPA Government and under auspicious leadership of Dr.Manmohan Singh
Lakkaraju Giridhara Rao, Hyderabad, AP India, says: Inversely proportional Congress towards A.P. The last five years it had been a rail budget for Bihar The next five years it will be for West Bengal. What will happen to the state of Andhra Pradesh, which has sent 32 MPs (Bakras) to the Parliament. A Raw deal, as always has been. States sending 6 to 12 MPs got Ministries such as Finaance and Railways or Home and Transport. The people of Andhra Pradesh had done a mistake in sending 32 MPS (nearly 17 percent of total congress strength in the Parliament). Come on wake up people of Andhra Pradesh, next time if you want ministries like Home, Finance, Transport or Railways or more trains to your state; do not send more than 10 MPs from your state. That is the equation congress understands - inversely proportional to your strength of MPs from the state. Mera Congress Mahan.
All I can say that the budget of this kind which is tilted in favour of some states and blatantly ignoring some others is a threat to federal structure of this country. It also smacks of political vendetta and not good.It has happened in past and is continuing even now. Nothing has changed!
First of all thanks to Mamata Didi, for the wonderful budget covering each and every body’s needs and requirements. But Didi I have a kind request, could you please do some needful changes for the railway of Assam? We people are all the time suffering a lot for poor condition of the Assam railway. We will be grateful to you, if you will do something needful, for the passengers like us. Thanks.
I am very happy with the budget Mamta didi has disclosed. Its very good provided it should be executed successfully. It would be very great if there would be something for physically challenged passenger. My expectation was, Indian Railway has give a special coach for physically handicapped passenger but with the lack of security it experienced that other and security people (by means providing security "whole drama they will do") using it and forcing handicapped people to sit down. Second issue is handicapped coach will be set either at the beginning or at the end without giving position on display pannel. In such case handicappped passenger has to run till the end of long train, which is very difficult for them. why can't Indian railway set it at the middle of the train. some time there won't be plant form and light available at the edges, climbing itself is very difficult in the darkness. If these points are noted then it would be great help for them. Thanks.
Mamtadi has proposed entrusting of responsibility for monitoring of all national projects such as the Kashmir line, to a senior officer instead of keeping it personally with herself. This is deeply disappointing because only an iron lady like her can do the magic required so extremely urgently for quick completion of these projects.