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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.
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Mamata di has made good beginning because of past performance. Like Lalu prasad yadav she will be also a absentee administrator due to her commitment to tame the communist dragon in West Bengal. So the babus will manage and deliver and the Minister will get credit.Thank god we see good growth in Railways which will be good for the country as a whole
Firstly I would like to congratulate our railway minister for the glorious railway budget 2009. I would appeal to honorable railway minister Ms Mamta Banerjee to extend the Lucknow-Raipur Garib Rath upto Visakhapatnam (A.P.). There is no direct train from Lucknow to Visakhapatnam. And if it becomes Gariv Rath, what can be better than that? Thank you.
The budget is definitely good. Medical Colleges
RESPECTED DIDI, I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE RAILWAY BUDGET-2009-10.THIS IS NOT ONLY HELP THE PEOPLE OF BENGAL BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE OF INDIA. THIS BUDGET IS SUCH A BUDGET WHICH I NEVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.THIS IS THE BUDGET OF THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE. I AM ATTACHED WITH EDUCATIONAL GROUND AND I AM ALSO A VOTER OF YOUR PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY. THANKING YOU A LOT, YOURS, BISWABIR BARMAN KASBA
mamtaji pl. extend udaipur-gwalior train upto jhansi as there is no direct source of travelling betweween these 2 stations.jaipur will be benifitted and links to bundelkhand will be opened
Madam... please spare some time and think also of Mumbaikars who regularly get packed and squeezed in and out of local trains twice a day. Please ask your railway police at every Mumbai local stations to mercilessly use the batton against those lumpens who block the doors of the locals even though they are to alight at the last stations. Please also ask your Mumbai Local TCs to get into suburban trains during peak hours (let them board the trains from point of origin) and do a check every alternate day....you will find your income rising. Otherwise, you may partly contract the duty to long-time suburban passangers on commission basis. What an excellent idea!!!
Ms Mamta Banerji's Railway Budget is excellent, particularlythe proposal to build Hospitals and constructing Traning Colleges for the Nurses in the vacant Railway land is commendable. Such health care facility will improve the medical atention of the common man, which is presenly low ebb. Even her proposal for cleanliness in the Railway Stations and for providing quality food, while travelling are also very good sign and relief for the travelling public. Introduciton of new fast/non-stop trains to Soputh India is an excellent idea thereby the Income to Railways will increase manifold. Over all the Railway budget is a good one for the travelling public.
Mamata should thank Lalu who has done wonderful job as aRailway Minister and the fund he made available for herto announce some new schemes. Otherwise she cant do this.In the past when she was a Railway minister she failed in toto.
I feel Mamatha had done good job this year.She might have given more importance to Andhra pradesh where leading MP's to Lok sabha from Andhra Pradesh.Happy to see new tatkal facilities.
Mumbai was waiting for more expeansion clealiness and safety measures but nothing came way to the local train passengers who travel on western line everydayAlso more dustbins and toilets on the platform
The most important item that is missing in the budget is "stress" on cleanliness, both within the train and the Railway Station,. No accountability on the railway staff for keeping the train , including the toilets clean, serving hygeinic food, and clean and washed blankets. The menace of beggarswill continue to plague the passengers. Otherwise the Budget is a great relief to the common man.
Its expected that our Didi will done a great job.Now people of West Bengal knows who help the nation as well as staes,Buddha or Mamata.CPIM root less in Bengal.We always need this type of minister.Best of Luck Didi.all the best for Next 'CM Of Bengal'.Also I think after getting CM post of Bengal she hand over her ministry to proper candidate.
mamata's rail budget has not done any thing for the people of marathwada. Thier is no mention of any new projects, besides no provisions are made to the existing project. Mamata must give serious consideration to doubling of manmad-kachikuda section,also the new lines such as Jalgaon-Aurangabad-Beed-Solapur and Nanded-Wardha should be taken so that people of region must get better train services.
The concept of Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private partnership model is a great idea. This will not only help Railway employees to avail better medical facilities, but also, the working Doctors of Indian Railways will be able to carry out new Research works in cunsultation with the young brain of newly admitted medical students.
I hope DIDI has taken into account opening of tolets on the platforms. As of now there are no toilets on different platforms forcing people to loiter in public. The only toilets (filthy) that you find are at the enterance of the railway station and not on idividual platforms.
Thanks go to the Prime Minister who has restored his faith on Didi. Didi, being a low profile but high spirited person already showed her might; she taught all the politicians that dressed in less costly garments, they can also achieve what they want to chieve in their political life. She is great as she touches the pulse of poor and rural India due to her access to them. Time has come to work and contribute; enough of achievements by politicians in dividing the country by caste, creed, religion. It is a time for the left to note that Didi is on her way to create a new Bengal and a new India..our faith is restored on her as she only understands what is the pain of poor people. We are with you Didi. No one can stop you...we love you as you love us unlike the majority of the politicians....
On the whole a good budget, try to maintain cleanliness in all stations whether big or small, Commercial department staff along with the R.P.F should see to it that touts are totaly done away with.
Who so ever was / is the railway minister, he / she thinks that it is their personal zagir, and try to appease the population of respective states. New angle in coailiation govts is, you will have to please your trouble makers also. States like Andhra though they send 30 MPs to house, still they will have to sit with their thumbs in mouth. Rediculous ! They don't have courage to demand essentials for their state. They feel it is their CM who has to take care. Many projects which were alloted to states like AP,MP and Kerala are no longer considered as projects at all. They have already alloted to other states. That is why it is better to elect MPs belonging to different parties, so that will put pressure for the benefit of region.
The budget seems to be fine but still needs correction. They should try to invest the enormous profit railways is making for improving infrastructure and facilities at station.Also they should try to hire some private sector company for catering services in railway and make sure proper sanitation is taken care of.Further,"'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 intial part of the plan seems good but reducing tatkal charges from 150 to 100 is not cool. As this facility is used mainly by individuals who are well off and this step may not be the right step forward because it will reduce the income of railways. I know lot my colleagues who travel by railways use "Tatkal services " 80%.And even if reduction was suppose to be done, they could have reduce it by 20% at max.
MUMBAI-harbour line trains frequency is bad, still the trains not alloted for harbour line. A humble request is at least incerase short root trains frequencies such as vadala- panvel and panvel/thane and panvel / andheri.
Mamta Didi has done quite well, as expected from her. Jewels can't remain hidden for long. She should be fully complimented for the great effort in the 15 days, she got to finalise the budget. She shall be crowned shortly with the Government of West Bengal. CPM has dug its own grave; had gone away from the roots - PEOPLE. You can't always win through Cadre Power. India is going towards a two party nation. The sooner it comes; the better it shall be for the common people, as there shall always be a good alternative available to the masses. But alas! Our present crop of leaders are still having blurred eyes; not being able to read the Writing on the Wall!
excellent budget. we surely need cleaner stations, cleaner train compartments and toilets, good and hygienic food at cheaper rates and fresh and hygienic drinking water at railway stations and also in the trains. there should be mass recruitment in trains. i wish her all the best. she is pro people and not a so call communist like buddhadeb bhattacharya in the guise of capitalism.
Reduction in tatkal from 5 days to 2 is really comfortable. My request is to provide some more unreserved compartments. The heavy rush in ladies
what there for Goa in the budget?
We all have progressed well in all directions but age, health