Highlights of the Rail Budget ,2014, According to S.Gowda,Railway Minister...... •Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom and I am grateful to PM Modi ji for having reposed his faith in me, says Railway minister Sadananda Gowda •Though I am a month old in the ministry, I am flooded with request for new trains, better services, new lines •Indian Railways is the soul of the economy and our target is to become largest freight carrier in the world •Indian railways carry only 31% of the total freight in the country. It is a challenge we have to face, says Rail Minister •We need to balance social and commercial obligations and we ill start work on high speed network •There had been focus on sanctioning projects rather than completing them •There are 4 projects that are over 30 years old but have still not been completed •Managing the Railways takes most of our resources. We spend 94% of our earnings, are left with just 6 per cent •The medicine may act bitter in the beginning but will be a nectar in the end: Gowda •Need Rs 50,000 cr every year for the next ten years for Railways •Ministry of Railways is seeking cabinet approval for FDI in Railways, except Railway operations •The fare revision was tough but necessary decision, it will bring Indian Railways an additional revenue of Rs 8000 crore •Can get claps from this house by announcing new projects but that would be rendering injustice to the struggling organization •Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent •Ministry of Railways is seeking cabinet approval for FDI in Railways, except Railway operations •Need PPP Route to finance bulk of projects including high speed rail •Need to have private-public partnership to improve condition of railways •Through PPP route want to provide foot-over bridges, escalators and lifts across all stations •Populist projects and mismanagement have brought Railways to point of funds crunch, says Rail Minister •Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years •Surplus revenues declining. Hardly any resources for development work •I propose to introduce pre cooked and ready to eat meals of reputed brands and want battery operated cars for senior citizens at railway stations: Gowda •Propose to hike budgetary plan outlay to Rs.47,650 crore •High priority areas - safety, cleanliness, passenger amenities and capacity augmentationr •Large part of the budget outlay to go to safety projects •Will introduce RO drinking water in trains and on stations •Propose to outsource cleaning responsibility on 50 stations to specialist cleaning agencies •CCTVs at stations will be used to monitor cleaning activities •Severe action to be taken against vendors delivering unhygienic food, including cancellation of contracts •Bio-toilets in trains to be increased to mitigate direct discharge of human waste on tracks and platform •Severe action to be taken against vendors delivering unhygienic food, including cancellation of contracts •Bio-toilets in trains to be increased to mitigate direct discharge of human waste on tracks and platform •Ticket bookings through post offices and mobile phones will be popularized, also coin operated ticket machines •Contemplating setting up of a railway university, both technical and non-technical courses •I propose Bullet trains, Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector has been identified •Efforts will be made to increase speed of trains to 160-200, on select sectors •I propose retiring rooms on all stations: Sadananda Gowda •Indian Railways to set up food courts at major railway stations •Railways to scale down market borrowings to Rs 11,790 crore •Allocated Rs 100 crore For High- Speed Rail Network •To Have Diamond Quadrilateral Network for High-speed Trains •17,000 Railway Protection Force personnel to be available soon •Introduction of women RPF constables, coaches meant for women to be escorted for greater safety •To allot Rs 1,780 Crore to eliminate unmanned level crossings •To have Digital Reservation Charts at stations •Will provide summer internships to undergraduate students from engineering background •E-procurement will be made compulsory for purchase of 25 lakh and more •Recent fare and tariff hike to mop additional revenue of about Rs 8,000 crore, says Rail Minister •Resource mobilisation through leveraging PSU resources, FDI and Public Private Participation •Solar energy to be harnessed through PPP by utilizing rooftop spaces of stations and railway buildings •Hospital Management Information System to integrate all railway health units and hospitals •Ladies coaches to be escorted by women RPF constables; additional care for ladies travelling alone •29 rail projects in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with Rs. 20,680 crores will be completed •Bangalore to get suburban rails •27 express trains to be introduced, 5 new jan sadharan trains to be introduced courtesy...The Hindu
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 11:29:20 +0000
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