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New Delhi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is ready to deliver his second Budeget speech in less than an hour from now. The minister on Wednesday said that the rail budget will cater to the needs of all “satisfactorily” as a lot of effort has gone into its preparation.[caption id=“attachment_2641316” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. AFP[/caption] “The Rail Budget we have prepared is in the interest of the nation and railways,” said Prabhu, who will present his second Rail Budget on Thursday in Parliament after assuming charge of the ministry. “We have tried to meet the needs of all satisfactorily. A lot of effort has gone into making the budget. We have taken the ground reality into consideration before finalising it,” he said. Efforts are on to generate revenue for railways through non-tariff sources like advertising, commercialisation of surplus land, official sources said, adding that a separate directorate is being planned for this purpose. “Diesel price is on the decline. Passenger bookings and goods loadings are also on downslide. So at this moment hiking freight rate and passenger fares will affect the Railways adversely,” sources in railways said, adding “fare hike can be effected anytime after budget also, if required and it is not necessary that it has to be done only in the budget.” Besides, Prabhu will also have to take call on whether to impose safety cess for strengthening safety measures to prevent accidents. However, railways have already decided to run as many special trains on higher fares in popular routes catering to the growing demand during festive season, an indirect way of hiking fares.The cross-subsidy from freight to passenger operation has crossed Rs 30,000 cr this year while the Seventh Pay Commission burden is about Rs 32,000 crore. Railways have earned Rs 136,079.26 crore as against the target of Rs 141,416.05 crore during April-January period, a decline of 3.77 percent. Railways had effected a 14 percent across-the-board hike in passenger fares in 2014 during the NDA regime and a 10 percent increase last year. However, despite the grim economic condition, the Railway Budget is expected to focus on massive capacity creation in the rail sector with an increased plan outlay of about Rs 1.25 lakh crore. With PTI input
Rail Budget 2016, as it happened: Unreserved passengers to get Antodaya Express
Railways have earned Rs 136,079.26 crore as against the target of Rs 141,416.05 crore during April-January period, a decline of 3.77 percent.
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Antodaya Express
For unreserved passengers railways introduce Antodaya Express. Fully unreserved train for common man to be operated on dense routes, says Prabhu.
More comfort for senior citizens
Children menu to be introduced on pilot basis on trains. Cleaning of coach on demand to be introduced. Disabled enabled toilet in 11 Class-A stations this year. Railways to increase lower berth quota for senior citizens by 50 percent, says Prabhu.
High speed-bullet train
SPV for the high-speed bullet train to be registered this month. Bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. two elevated rail corridor planned in Mumbai. One churgate to virar and the other from CST to Panvel North-South, East-West dedicated freight corridor proposed in Railway Budget for 2016-17. Three direct services – fully air-conditioned Humsafer to travel at 130-km per hour. Overnight double-decker train Uday Express to be introduced on busiest routes, carrying capacity to be 40 percent more. 33 percent reservation to women in reserved quota in Railways will be introduced. Staggering of office timing will be a very innovative measure, to reduce peak traffic. Expanding freight basket the key to financial revival, says Prabhu.
Loss in passenger fares
Rs 30,000 crore is the loss on subsidising passenger fares. Energy savings a creative thrust of cost savings, says minister.
Generating employment
Indian Railways will generate employment of 9 crore man-days in 2017-18 and 14 crore man days in 2018-19, says Prabhu.
Make in India
Financial bids for 2 loco factories have been put under Make in India, says the minister.
Corporate-like HR measures
Corporate-like HR measures, like KRA (Key Result Areas) have been put in place. Dedicated IVRS for feedback from customers, more than 1 lakh telephone calls made to customers. Passenger centricity and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) processes now in place. Operational Efficiency is the key, says Prabhu.
Railways with passengers
Today there is no barrier between the common people and the Railways, says Prabhu.
Modernization funds
“The railways is sekking to spent Rs 8.5 lakh crore for its modernization programme in five years,” says Prabhu.
Capital expenditure
Rs 1. 20 lakh crore is the amount railyways is likely to commit for capital expendiuture this year, says Prabhu.
From completion to commission
“We have changed our focus from completion which is just on paper to commission,” says Prabhu.