Railway Budget 2012

Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi has presented the Rail Budget for the year 2012-2013, in the lok Sabha on Wednesday. There has been a marginal hike in the Passenger fares as per the new budget.

The main highlights of the budget are:

• Passenger fares will be charged as per these norms: 2 paise per km for suburban and ordinary second class; 3 paise per km for mail/express second class; 5 paise per km for sleeper class; 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier and First Class; 15 paise per km for AC 2 tier and 30 paise per km for AC I.
•  Minimum fare and platform tickets raised to Rs 5 from Rs 3.
• For the patients suffering from ‘Aplastic Anemia’ and ‘Sickle Cell Anemia’, 50% concession will be provided in AC-2, AC-3, and Chair Car & Sleeper class.
• Additional advantage to Arjun Awardees has been provided in the new rail budget by extending the facility of travel by Rajdhani and Shatabdi Trains
• In case of e-ticket, SMS on Passenger’s cell phone will be taken into consideration as a proof of Valid Reservation.
• Travel distance under ‘Izzat Scheme’ to increase from 100 kms to 150 kms.
• Opening of satellite based real time train information system (SIMRAN) to provide train running information to passengers via SMS, internet, etc.
• To facilitate On Board passengers, displays indicating the arrival time and next station info will be introduced.
• Setting up of 321 escalators at main stations out of which 50 will be commissioned in 2012-13.
• Regional Cuisines will be made available by launching of Book a meal Scheme, where passengers can order meals through SMS or email, and at a very affordable price.
• Introduction of coin/currency operated ticket vending machines.
• Progression of 929 stations as Adarsh Stations including 84 stations planned in 2012-13; 490 stations have been completed so far.
• Specifically designed coaches for persons with disability.
• A new Magazine for the Travelers, named Rail Bandhu on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Duronto trains.
•  Setting up of AC Executive lounges at chief stations.
• 75 new Express trains to be introduced.
• 21 new passenger services, 9 DEMU services and 8 MEMU services to be introduced.
• Run of 39 trains and Frequency of 23 trains to be extended
•  75 additional services to run in Mumbai suburban; 44 new suburban services to be introduced in Kolkata area, 50 new services to be introduced in Kolkata Metro; 18 additional services in Chennai area.
• 725 km new lines, 700 km doubling, 800 km gauge conversion and 1,100 km electrification targeted in 2012-13.
•  A railway wagon factory to be set up at Sitapali in Ganjam District of Odisha.
• With the Government of Kerala support a rail coach Factory is to be set up at Palakkad
• For the  manufacturing of  next generation technology propulsion system a factory will be set up at Shyamnagar in West
• To keep thing organized, setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority is to be taken into consideration.
•  To eliminate level crossings, Rail-Road Grade Separation Corporation is proposed to set up.
• Introduction of a ‘Green Train’ to run through the North Bengal.
• National High Speed Rail Authority to be set-up.
• Building up of 200 remote railway stations which will be operating by using solar energy and will be named as ‘green energy stations’ and also facilitating 1000 manned level crossing Gates with Solar Power
• Introduction of around 2500 coaches with bio-toilets.
• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will be provided with upto 72 MW capacity windmill plants.
•  Fitting of Integrated Security System at 202 identified stations and is proposed to be completed in 2012-13.
• Integration of RPF helpline with the All India Passenger Helpline.
• Setting up of a Railway Safety Authority and 3 ‘Safety Villages’ to be set up at Bengaluru, Kharagpur and Lucknow for skill development for disaster management.
• Around 1 lakh persons belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories are to be recruited in 2012-13
• Introduction of a wellness programme for railway staff at their work places and proper rest facilities to the staff.
• Five focus areas – tracks, bridges, signalling, rolling stock, stations.
• Operating ratios of 74% in 2016-17.
• Automatic train running sysetem to be introduced on all trains in the next 18 months.
• Institution of ‘Rail Khel Ratna’ Award for 10 rail sports-persons every year.
• New coaching terminal at Naihati, the birth place of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay commemorating him on 175th Birth Anniversary.
• A new Project to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh is proposed  to be taken up in 2012-13.
• A goal to achieve Passenger growth to 5.4 %.