New Delhi: March 14, 2012

Union railway minister Dinesh Trivedi on Wednesday presented his maiden Rail Budget in Lok Sabha.

Trivedi says he is grateful to both Mamata Banerjee and Lalu Prasad. Have received Lalu Yadav’s blessings, says Trivedi during his maiden Rail Budget.

Minister says his focus will be mostly on safety. Safety of Indian Railways has to be benchmarked against modern railways in the world. The minister said he plans to set up Independent Railway Safety Authority, Rail Research and Development Council.

More than 40% of accidents involving 60-70% casualties occur at unmanned crossings, the minister said.
He said, he plans to eliminate all unmanned crossings in the next five years.

Special purpose vehicle will be set up to prevent accidents at unmanned railway crossings.
Trivedi proposes to set up Independent Railway Safety Authority.

Anil Kakodkar to head rail safety panel. Requests for ploughing back of dividend of Rs 20,000 cr.

Proposes Railway Safety Fund of Rs 16,800 crore.

Railways must attract at least 10% of the government investment plan.

Proposes on implementation and modernisation.

Gross budgetary support of Rs 7.35 lakhs crore for Railways.
487 projects have already been approved and most of the project unless supported by government can’t be completed on time

Safety standards have to be improved. Our vision should be zero deaths, says Trivedi.

Railways has Rs 1 lakh crore of pending projects.
Plan to bring down operating ratio which is at the moment 95%.

“I’m glad to inform that I have chosen modernisation to become a powerful growth mechanism for the Indian economy. The choice before me is either to keep the system dragging or build a modern system” adds Dinesh Trivedi.

“Most of the projects can’t be completed in a time-bound manner unless supported by Government”

“I seek Rs 2.5 lakh crore as budgetary support from Government in the 12th Plan.
Will invest Rs 3.5 lakh crore during the 12th plan in Railways”, the minister said.

An expert committee observed that the Indian Railways suffers from an implementation bug, Trivedi said.

There are 487 unfinished projects of new lines gauge conversion and new lines worth Rs one lakh crore
Independent railway safety authority to be set up as statutory safety body.

Target of reducing accidents from 0.55 to 0.17 has been met. Plan to bring down operating ratio which is at the moment 95%.

A huge sum of Rs 14 lakh crore is required in the next 10 years for this sector.

Want to reduce operating ratio from 95% to 84.9% in FY 2012-13 says Trivedi.

The areas of focus are safety, consolidation, decongestion and augmentation, and modernisation.

I have two options – either to keep the railways status quo or byte the bullet, the minister said.
I have a Himalayan task of running the railways.

Eyes Rs 14 lakh cr over next 10 years for funding projects.

Special projects for North East and Jammu & Kashmir

We need national investment to make Indian Railways the best in the world.

We cannot imagine India without railways.
Want the operating ratio to be at 74% by FY 2016-17.
We have received 5,741 requests in total in various states, the minister added.

487 approved projects at various levels of execution
Govt should work on a national plan for the railways, extend support
Railways should get at least 10% of government’s infrastructure spends

Rly Minister says there are 3,000 demands for enhancing amenities, 646 for new trains.
Targets passenger speed of 160 km an hour .

Modernisation of rolling stocks, upgradation of EMUs; wagons, coaches will be priority.
The track to be modernised accounts for 80% of the traffic.

Plan to modernise 19,000 km through renewal upgradation of tracks.
GBS for Railways in FY 2012-13 targeted at RS 24,000 crore.
The annual plan for FY 2012-13 is targeted at Rs 60,100 crore, which the highest ever planned investment.

Railways to spend Rs 1.71 lakh cr on rolling stock over next 5 years.
Market borrowing through IRFC at Rs 50,000 cr needed in 2012.

eed to upgrade capacity and technology for Indian Railways.
To spend Rs 63,212 crore on track modernization in 5 years.

Modernise rolling stock via fresh purchases of wagons, engines.
Total investment to modernise signalling system at Rs 39,110 crore.

New coaching complex in Panvel.
Railways to facilitate running to heavier trains.

Indian Railways Stations Development Corp will redevelop stations and maintain them on pattern of airports.
Pan India connectivity from Navi Mumbai.
Budgetary support estimated at Rs 25,000 crore.

Railways to invest Rs 18,193 cr in FY13 on rolling stock.
825 km of gauge conversion to be completed.
All the lines, which the Planning Commission has given approval for have been included.
State governments are requested to come forward to share the cost to facilitate early completion of projects.

Trivedi: “Be ready to bite the bullet to modernise railways.”

Doubling of lines of 750 kms will be completed in FY12-13
To complete 45 new lines in FY 13

63,000 crore allocated for modernising tracks.
17 gauge conversion projects will be completed in FY 12-13. 825 kms of gauge conversion projects to be completed.

Rs 6872 crore allocated under the new line plan.
Development of major stations to create 50,000 jobs.
New lines to be laid in under developed parts.

Travel time from Delhi to Kolkata will get reduced from 17 hours to 14 hours. Introduction of new wagons and auto car are planned.

“I propose to create a logistics corporation to handle the last mile service for freight traffic: Dinesh Trivedi.
Plan to set up Indian Railway Station Organisation to redevelop, maintain stations on the lines of airports,” Trivedi.

Double decker container trains also planned.
Total market borrowing in FY 2012-13 for Railways expected at Rs 65,000 crore.
To allocate Rs 4,410 crore on capacity augmentation work.

Rail Minister Wishes to fullfill each and every demand of the Member of the Parliament.

Plans to bring down operating ratio to 84% by FY14 from current level of 95%.

Railways to plough back dividend of Rs 20,000 crore into modernisation.
Sam Pitroda to head Railway modernisation plan.

31 projects of over 5,000 km being implemented with the support of state governments.

“Time has come for formulating national policy for railways on the lines of that for defence and external affairs, 85 new line projects, 114 new line surveys to be carried out.”

New line planned to Nepal from Bihar.
I propose to establish a plant of traction for high horse power to be set up in Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh: Dinesh Trivedi.

Rail coach factory at Palakkad to be set up with support from the Kerala government.
Raebareli coach factory ready for rolling.

2 new coach manufacturing units proposed.
Plan to provide rail connectivity to Nepal and Bangladesh.

The budgetary support has been modest at Rs 25,000 crore vs the requirement of Rs 45,000 crore.
Propose Rs 4,410 core for capacity augmentation works: Dinesh Trivedi.

1,500 EMU coaches have been added. The MUTP phase-2 work is also progressing well.
Working on PPP for elevated Churchgate-Virar corridor.

1,500 EMU coaches have been added. The MUTP phase-2 work is also progressing well: Trivedi.
The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation has successfully completed the flagship project of MUTP.
Kolkata metro works progressing very well.

The challenging task of converting DC to AC has been achieved in the western railways.
700 km of double tracking to be carried out in FY 2012-13.
I propose to achieve 6,500 km electrification. Udhampura, Srinagar, Baramullah line to be electrified: Trivedi.

Plan to modernise 90,000 km through renewals.
800 km of lines to be gauge converted at Rs 1,950 crore in 2012-13.
All meter gauge, narrow gauge sections to be made broad gauge, except heritage lines, by end of 12th Five Year Plan.

Special coaches planned for differently-abled.
Introduction of escalators, book a meal, AC lounge to accommodate wait listed passengers.
31 projects of over 5,000 km being implemented with the support of state governments.

“I propose to raise allocation for passenger amenities from Rs 762 crore to Rs 1,112 crore in 2013″ Trivedi.
Propose to set up rail connectivity to Nepal from Bilaspur and Agartala to Akhaura in Bangladesh.

Proposes to set up Rail Khel Ratna award for outstanding sportspersons.
Over 900 stations to be upgraded.

Logistics Corporation committee to be formed.
2,500 coaches to be provided with bio toilets.
2 new coach mfg units proposed.

One special coach in each train for the differently abled passengers.
Special design coaches have earmarked wheelchair-borne and differently abled passenger coaches.

All-out efforts to maintain trains and stations for hygiene and cleanliness.
Specialised house-keeping body to enhance standard hygiene and cleanliness.

NID to help improvise design to help passengers.
Plan to set up three training centres for training in disaster management.
Satellite based real-time information of trains to update passengers on all running trains in next 18 months.

Extension of house keeping, mobile booking, alternate train accommodating system for wait listed passengers.
5 railway sportsperson have qualified for Olympics 2012.
Proper rest period to be introduced.

Study on Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur high speed corridor to be completed.
I propose to get reputed agencies via global tender: Dinesh Trivedi.

Railways expects passenger revenues to go up by Rs 28,360 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 1,32,555 crore.’
Number of passengers expected to increase by 5.4%. Passenger earnings expected to go up to Rs 3,673 crore.
Railways hopes to increase freight revenue by 30% in 2012-13 at Rs 89,000 crore.

The earning target has scaled down.
Continued ban on iron ore by Karnataka has led to downfall of 993 to 970 million metric tonnes.
Indian Railways going through a difficult phase: Trivedi

75 new services in Mumbai to be introduced.
Guru Parikrama special trains to run through Amritsar, Patna, Nanded routes..
Propose to introduce 75 new express trains, 21 passenger trains.

I propose to modernise production units: Dinesh Trivedi.
80,000 persons were recruited in 2011 to fill up safety and mechanical vacancies: Trivedi
e-procurement, e-auction of scraps planned .

Railways have not defaulted in payment of dividends despite difficulty.
Freight earning target at Rs 89,339 crore.

Wait-listed passengers to get alternate train reservations.
Improvement of passenger amenities to cost Rs 1,112 cr; regional cuisines to be introduced.
Proposes E-auctions to smoothen procurement.

114 new line surveys to be undertaken during 2012-13.
21 new passenger and 75 new express trains to be launched.
85 new line projects to be taken up during 2012-13.

50% concession to patients suffering from Anemia, sickle cell Anemia diseases, in AC coaches.
Rs 3,000 cr loan extended by Finance Ministry to meet urgent safety needs to be returned in 2012-13 itself.
FY 13 ordinary expenses seen at Rs 84,400 cr.

Guided by over-riding concerns, no steep increase in fares.
Arjuna awardees to be given facility of concession in Rajdhani express.
Under Izzat Scheme, fares according to kilometres travelled to be increased.

Fare hike: For AC 3 tier- 10 paise per km, AC 2 TIER- 15 paise per km, 2nd class- 3 paise per km This is the first hike in passenger fares in 10 years. 2 paise/km to 30 paise/km increase in fares.

Corrosion from night soil discharged from toilets on tracks costs Rs 350 cr a yr.
Wagon unit to be set at Sitapali in Ganjam district of Orissa.
Project to connect Agartala (Tripura) with Akhaura in Bangladesh to be undertaken in 2012-13.

75 new services on Mumbai suburban network.
Proposes to set up 50 new train in Kolkata.
SMS on mobile phones to be accepted as a valid id proof.

Proposes to Restructure the Railway Board.
Railways to install security systems at 202 stations.
In 2011, 80,000 people were recruited to fill the vacancy and in 2012, more than 1 lakh to be recuited and it will clear the backlog.
Proposes to set up Rail Khel Ratna award for outstanding sportspersons.

 

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