RAILWAY BUDGET 2013 -14: PASSENGER AMENITIES , MAIN PRIORITY

The Thrust of this year Railway Budget was on Safety, Consolidation, Passenger Amenities and
Fiscal Discipline and 106 new trains (67 Express trains, 26 passenger services, 8 DEMU and 5
MEMU) are to be launched on different routes.


MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE

• Deployment of new generation energy efficient electric locomotives and EMUs.

• Five Percent Increase in freight to push Inflation.

• Elimination of 10797 level crossings during the 12th Plan and no addition of new LCs to the IR system henceforth.

• Introduction of Train Protection Warning System on Automatic Signaling Systems.

• Rigorous trials of the indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System.

• 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.

• No increase in passenger fares

• 500-km new lines to be completed in 2013-14

• Diesel price hike added 3300 crore rupees to fuel bill of Railways

• Railways hopes to end 2013-14 with a balance of 12506 crore rupees

• Concessional fare for sportspersons

• Five fellowships to be announced to motivate students

• Seek to fill 1.52 lakh vacancies in railways this year. 47000 vacancies for weaker sections and physically challenged to be filled up soon

• Target of 4000 crore rupees for railway production units in 2014

• Induction of e-ticketing through mobile phones, SMS alerts to passengers

• Free Wi-Fi facilities in select trains. 60 more 'Adarsh' stations

• The number of passenger trains has increased from 8000 in 2001 to over 12000 in 2012
- yet losses continue to mount. It is estimated to be Rs. 24000 crore in 2012-13

• Proposal for setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority formulated and at inter- ministerial consultation stage.

• Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased.

• Complimentary card passes to Olympic medalist and Dronacharya Awardees for
Rajdhani Shatabdi Trains.

• Announcement Facility and Electronic display boards in train.