Highlights of Rail Budget 2014

Highlights of Rail Budget 2014

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Union minister Sadananda Gowda is presenting his first Rail Budget in the Lok Sabha. Here are the highlights :

* Indian railways to become the largest freight carrier in the world.

* Social obligation of Railways in 2013-14 was Rs 20,000 crore.

* Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent.

* Focus in past has been on sanctioning projects rather than completing them, Railway minister says.

* Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years.

* Fare revision will bring in Rs.8,000 crore; need another Rs.9,000 crore for golden quadrilateral project 

* Railways also proposes to set up Food Courts at major stations.


* Need to explore alternative sources of resource mobilisation and not depend on fare hike alone, Railway minister says. 

* Spend 94 paisa of every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of only 6 paisa. 

* With 12,500 trains, railways move 23 million passengers every day; equivalent to moving Australia's population.

* Separate housekeeping wing at 50 major stations.

* CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities.

* Mechanized laundry will be introduced.

* Dedicated freight corridor on Eastern and Western corridors.

* 5400 unmanned level crossing removed.

* Tourist trains to be introduced to link all major places of tourist interests across the country.

* 4,000 women constables to be recruited to ensure safety of women. 17,000 RPF constables to provide safety to passengers.

* Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical study.

* Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track.

* Proposal to start Bullet trains in Mumbai—Ahmedabad route.

* Diamond Quadrilateral project of high speed trains to connect all major metros.

* E-ticketing system to be improved 

source:timesofindia,abpnew