Rail Budget 2015 Live: Prabhu late for Talkathon, aam janta getting impatient

While Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has arguably received praise from almost all quarters, you can be assured that at 9 pm tonight, the Arnab Express will demand answers from Prabhu… answers that the nation wants to know. 

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is late by 30 minutes for the Talkathon which was scheduled at 5:15 pm this evening and the aam janata is defintely getting impatient. 

What the PM thought about Rail Budget 2015

Didn’t want to announce new trains in railway budget, says Prabhu post-Budget

I didn’t announce new trains in budget since that can be done at any time, Prabhu said in a post-budget interview on DD News. 

“The railway budget should be a policy statement and should serve as a guide,” he said.

Mayawati says lovely budget but what about last year’s promises?

The BSP chief is the first to oppose the Railway Budget saying that the government hasn’t fulfilled 50 percent of the promises made in the last rail budget. 

She also accused the railways of attempting to privatise the railways by roping in private players for various projects.

Will turn the railways around, promises Prabhu

Prabhu quotes no poet but chooses Swami Vivekananda instead and said that he would definitely turn the railways around. 

And with that he’s done. No numbers or new trains announced in Parliament, they’re all in annexures. Perhaps one of the most concise and tech-heavy speeches so far. 

The opposition, not surprisingly, isn’t very happy and is raising a bit of a ruckus.

Plan to train autorickshaw, taxi drivers as tourist guides

The railways will work on training autorickshaw and taxi drivers as tourist guides since they are the first point of contact for most passengers, Prabhu said

He also said the railways would also allow travel agencies can soon rent entire coaches to tourist destinations

Yoga for Railway Police, focus to be on solar power, says Prabhu

Yoga training for RPF and soft skill training for railway employees is on the cards, Prabhu said. 

He also promised that the ministry had for the first time created a body to reduce energy consumption and the preservation of the environment. 

The Railways would also bid competitively for power and it would save them over Rs 3000 crore, Prabhu said. 

Solar power will also play a crucial role and the minister said that they would use every possible opportunity to harvest as much of it as possible

Will raise low cost funds for long-term infrastructure funds, says Prabhu

The Railway Minister said that “business as usual” was not viable. 

Prabhu said that he planned to raise funds through markets and equity schemes with state governments. 

He proposed a financing cell in the Indian Railways and said they planned to raise low cost funds from insurance and pension funds. 

“This may include setting up of an infrastructure fund,” he said, adding that various steps could be taken to raise long-term funds for infrastructure development for the railways.

New plan for improving Mumbai’s railways

The Railway Minister promised a new IT system and a mobile app. He promised to revamp the Public-Private Partnership cell in the railways to make it more result oriented. 

He also said that the third phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project would be undertaken which seeks to improve rail transport in the metropolis.

Prabhu announces steps to make Indian Railways safer, gives Make in India a push

After a promise to give a push for the Make in India initiative, Prabhu promised a slew of measures to tackle the issue of railway safety. 

The Railway Minister promised to reduce the number of unmanned railway crossings and said it was working on a range of projects to prevent accidents on them. 

In the next financial year, 970 of road over bridges will be built over unmanned railway crossings, said Prabhu.

Faster trips between metros, promises Prabhu

The Railway Minister announced a slew of measures to develop freight corridors and facilities to move freight faster. 

Prabhu promised to increase the speed along particular railway corridors so that travel between urban centres was raised significantly. So a journey from Delhi to Mumbai or Delhi to Kolkata would be speeded up.

Will double, triple tracks to raise capacity, says Prabhu

The Railway Minister said that the ministry planned to double and triple railway tracks over 7000 km

He said the ministry intended to spend 1686 cr over the next year for the project and said this distance was 84% higher than last year.

Now easier for private companies to invest in redevelopment of stations

The Railway Minister said they would change the manner in which private companies would be able to invest in the redevelopment of stations to encourage them to do so.

He said the companies would be able to invest in a completely transparent process. 

Prabhu also promised to develop satellite train stations as an alternative to congested rail terminals in major cities.

Now book tickets 120 days in advance

Prabhu said that passengers will be allowed to book their tickets 120 days in advance instead of the present 60 day limit. 

He also appealed to private bodies to invest in passenger amenities.

Railway Minister says he is hoping that MPs will donate from their funds for passenger amenities but there were quite a few shouts of protest over that. 

Prabhu, however, pointed out that two MPs had already contributed

AC train on Mumbai railways soon, easier to get lower berths for senior citizens

The Railway Minister promised a airconditioned train on Mumbai’s suburban railways soon. 

Prabhu promised that the quota of lower berths for senior citizens and pregnant women would be increased. He said TTs would be instructed to help such passengers as well in securing lower berths

A train similar to bulllet trains will also be run on a pilot basis.

SMS alerts for passengers, more mobile phone charging points

The minister said they were starting a SMS alert service for passengers about arrival and departure times of services. 

He said the number of mobile phone charging points would be increased in general coaches as well. MPs cheered. 

“As a part of Digital India initiative, WiFi will be made available at Category B stations as well,” he said.

Better food, cheaper water for railway passengers soon, promises Prabhu

The Railway Minister said they would draw from the unused Nirbhaya fund for ensuring the safety of women on trains. 

Prabhu said that they would also introduce services to make buying unreserved tickets easier on long distance trains as well as suburban railways like in Mumbai as well. Debit card machines could also be brought into ticket counters to make cashless transactions a reality soon. 

Better food facilities and water dispensers will be brought in at stations, Prabhu said.

No hike in railway fares!

The Railway Minister has said they won’t be raising passenger fares this year. 

He also promised to make railways cleaner and said that the Swacch Bharat Initiative would be implemented in the railways as well. Professional groups will be brought in and railway staff will be trained in best practices, he said. But he had an appeal for passengers.

“Railways is your travelling home, please keep it clean,” Prabhu appealed to passengers. 

There will also be a helpline with number 138 that will be made operational shortly so that passengers can register any complaints during the journey.

Will reach out to private companies for funds but won’t privatise railways, says Prabhu 

“Railways has to be self sustainable,” Prabhu said, adding that the railways needed to improve operating efficiency, control costs and increase revenue.

The Railway Minister said that he had tabled a white paper on the railways and the budget would present a five-year plan to develop the service. 

States will allowed to create special purpose vehicles in order to fund railway projects, Prabhu said. He promised more partnerships with private partners in projects but was quick to put in a caveat. 

“Rail will continue to be a precious national asset and will continue to be owned by the people of India,” he said.

He said the Railways wouldn’t lean too heavily on the Ministry of Finance and would instead try raise funds through pension funds and other financial organisations. 

The Railway Minsiter said that they were keen on changing processes as well and said they would aim for a decade-best operating ratio of 88.59 against the targeted operating ratio of 91.8.

Want to make Railways safer, cleaner, more efficient over next five years, says Prabhu

The Railway Minister pointed out the constraints that the railways was operating under severe constraints and he hoped to increase capacity on the existing network. He said that he hoped to increase capacity on existing tracks, improve speed and operate goods trains on schedule. 

“Need to restore Indian Railways as the backbone of India’s transport network,” Prabhu said. 

The Railway Minister said he had visited most states and interacted with all possible stake holders to assess what the service needed. 

“We have prepared a forward looking agenda,” Prabhu said. 

He said that the railways was launching initiatives to make railway travel safer, cleaner and more efficient.

Railway facilities haven’t improved over last few decades, says Prabhu

Suresh Prabhu begins his speech by thanking the PM for infusing India with a renewed sense of pride and giving him the opportunity of serving people. 

After praising the railways and its importance in India, Prabhu also spoke of how the railways had influenced even Mahatma Gandhi. 

“Unfortunately railway facilities haven’t improved over the last few decades,” he said. 

Due to poor financing for the railways had suffered and it needed to be changed in order to improve it and the economy, he said.

There are some problems Railway Budget 2015 can’t solve 

Sonia Gandhi also demands apology from Naidu

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also demanded that Parliamentary Affairs Minister apologise for his statement, which was reportedly against Rahul Gandhi and his introspection. 

“The minister should express regret,” she was quoted as saying in an NDTV report.

And the Railway Minister’s now in Parliament

Suresh Prabhu leaves Rail Bhavan for Parliament with Rail Budget

Won’t back down, will disrupt Lok Sabha, says Congress

Naidu says he’s sorry for any statement deemed disrespectful, Congress still not happy

Naidu said he had a problem. “I always state facts,” he said. 

“I respect everyone in Parliament and mean no disrespect to them with any statement,” Naidu said. 

The minister said that he was sorry if he had hurt anyone’s sentiments with his statements yesterday. The Congress though didn’t seem satisfied with the explanation and it isn’t clear if it’s enough to ensure the Rail Budget will be presented smoothly. 

Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge said that it was Naidu’s responsibility to evolve a consensus and work with other parties. 

“He should express his regret,” Kharge said, adding that if he didn’t do so it would only allow such incidents in the future as well. 

The Congress then began shouting slogans against the government, which only riled up Naidu further and he stood up to say he hadn’t said anything wrong.

It resulted in the Lok Sabha being adjourned till 11:30.

Opposition to disrupt Rail Budget demanding Naidu’s apology?

Suresh Prabhu may face some diruption before he presents his rail budget today. 

Times Now reports that opposition parties met this morning and decided to disrupt proceedings demanding an apology from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkiah Naidu. 

Naidu had reportedly used some words during a debate yesterday which opposition parties like the Congress has chosen to take offence to. All the parties are coming together for the protest and it remains to be seen whether Naidu will apologise in any way.

What does Suresh Prabhu hope will trend on Twitter after he’s done with his first Rail Budget?

Well, it turns out he doesn’t care.

“I go back to Parliament. The job continues. I hope the journey becomes better,” the Railway Minister said with a smile.  

The Railway Minister said that his first budget would focus on making things better for the common man, particularly the services like cleanliness and other aspects. 

Prabhu also said that his budget would focus on Jammu and Kashmir and the North East states since it was important to develop rail facilities there.

A good opening song for the Rail Budget?

Prabhu deals with some documents before heading to Parliament

Rail Budget will put Indian Railways on the right track, says Suresh Prabhu before heading to Parliament

“If Railways grows, India will grow. We need to keep this in mind as we go ahead with the Budget,” Prabhu told DD News before heading to Parliament.

However, he promised that he was in for a long innings and said that it would take a long time to reform the railways. But he wants one thing from the people of India…

“I want your good wishes,” Prabhu said. 

The Railways Minister said the financial plan of the Railways would be revealed in the coming hours. 

“It should be on the right track and we will start on it from today,” Prabhu said. 

The DD reporter pointed out that the food on the table of the Railway Minister’s dining table was bland and spartan. Whether it was meant to be a commentary on what to expect from the Railways Minister wasn’t very clear.

Prabhu’s son, Ameya Prabhu, said that he felt that his father fully understood the problems of Mumbai’s local train commuters and he would try to improve things there. No clarity on that either.

Prabhu ended by saying that the budget would deal with people’s worries, future challenges, and would ensure that it would be seen positively in the future. Now to wait for 12 pm.

Rail stocks rise marginally ahead of Rail Budget

Stocks of companies related to Railways such as Titagarh Wagon and BEML rose by 0.79 per cent each at Rs 583.80 and Rs 987.90, respectively as markets opened today.

Stocks of railway linked companies have largely not done too much so far but will a ‘Make in India’ push change things?

More corporate branding on trains?

And the Rail Budget copies have already reached Parliament

Don’t worry, Rail Budget will be good, says MoS Railways

He’s not going to be speaking in Parliament today but Minister of Railways Manoj Sinha has said budget watchers shouldn’t be worried about the upcoming budget. 

“Don’t worry I am sure you will be happy after hearing the Railway Budget,” he told reporters.

He said that the budget would deal with the expansion and modernisation of the Indian rail network and passengers would benefit from it.