Railway Budget 2013-14 Highlights

Union Railway Minister PK Bansal was presented the Railway budget for the year 2013-14 today in Lok Sabha.Here is the railway budget 2013-14 highlights

Highlights of the railway budget 2013-14

No hike in passenger fares

Superfast and Tatkal charges to rise

Annual plan for 2013-14 set at Rs.63,363 crore

Losses up from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13

Accidents per million km down from .41 to .13

Raised four companies of women RPF personnel; another eight to be raised for women’s safety

67 new Express and 26 new passenger trains to run; 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced; run of 57 trains to be extended; frequency of 24 trains to increase

22 new rail lines to be taken up in 2013-14

New debt service fund to be set up

Will close fiscal 2012-13 with fund balance against previous deficit; need to build fund balance to Rs.30,000 crore by end of 12th Plan

Operating ratio of 88.8 percent achieved

Dividend reduced from 5 to 4 percent

Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year

72 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

Rs.6,600 crore increase in earnings from fare adjustment in January

Rs.63,000 crore investment in 2013-14

1,047 million tonnes freight loading estimated during 2013-14

Passenger earnings of Rs.42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14

Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management to be set up at Secunderabad

Chair at Delhi to promote research in reducing carbon footprint

Winners of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Dhyan Chand awards to get free first class passes

Complementary first class passes for parents of unmarried posthumous awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra

Complementary passes of freedom fighters to be renewed every three years instead of annually

New forged wheel factory at Rae Bareli in collaboration with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd

Greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) manufacturing facility at Bhilwara along with Rajasthan government and BHEL

Coach making unit at Sonepat in collaboration with Haryana government

Midlife rehabilitation workshop at Kurnool along with Andhra Pradesh government.

Railway energy management company to be set up to harness solar and wind energy

1,000 crossings to be energised by solar power

1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up

Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned

Azadi Express for travel to places associated with freedom struggle

India in 1 billion tonne freight club

By end of 2013-14, 1,500 km of contracts to be awarded for two dedicated rail corridors

Rs.1 lakh crore target set for public-private-partnership route

Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains

Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi

179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations

E-ticketing through mobile phones

SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status

Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013

Seventeen bridges identified for repair

Smoke and fire detection system envisaged

Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans

Making corporate Safety Plan for a 10 year period (2014-24)

Introduction of Train Protection Warning System on Automatic Signalling Systems

Rigorous trials of indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System

Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains

Elimination of 10,797 level crossings during the 12th Plan and no addition of such crossings

Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up

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