RAILWAY BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS 26 FEB
- No increase in passenger fares (Read)
- Marginal increase in reservation charges, cancellation charges
- Supplementary charges for superfast trains and tatkal booking
- To launch 26 new passenger trains
- To launch 67 express trains
- 500-km new lines to be completed in 2013-14
- Concessional fare for sportspersons
- 5 per cent average increase in freight
- Diesel price hike added Rs. 3,300 crore to fuel bill of Railways
- Railways hopes to end 2013-14 with a balance of Rs. 12,506 crore
- 5.2 per cent growth in passenger traffic expected in 2013-14
- Railways’ freight loading traffic scaled down by 100 million tonnes from 1025 million tonnes because of economic slowdown
- Railways to set up a Debt Service Fund
- Rs. 3,000 crore loan from Finance Ministry re-paid with interest by Railways this financial year
- New coach manufacturing and maintenance facilities to be set up in various places including Rae Bareli, Bhilwara, Sonepat, Kalahandi, Kolar, Palakkad and Pratapgarh
- Five fellowships to be announced to motivate students
- Centralised training institute to be set up in Secunderabad
- Will provide better living conditions for Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel
- Seek to fill 1.52 lakh vacancies in railways this year. 47,000 vacancies for weaker sections and physically challenged to be filled up soon
- Target of Rs. 4,000 crore for railway production units in 2014
