Highlights of the Railway Budget 2012-13

Safety

• Setting up of a Railway Safety Authority as a statutory regulatory body as recommended by Kakodkar Committee
• Creating Missions as recommended by Pitroda Committee to implement the modernisation programme
• New Board Member (Safety/Research) to be inducted
• Rail-Road Grade Separation Corporation to be set up to eliminate level crossings
• Three ‘Safety Villages’ to be set up at Bengaluru, Kharagpur and Lucknow for skill development for disaster management
• Installation of Integrated Security System at all 202 identified stations to be completed in 2012-13
• Escorting of trains by RPF/GRP extended to 3500 trains
• Integration of RPF helpline with the All India Passenger Helpline

Modernisation/Capacity

• Aligning the Annual Plan investment with five focus areas identified by Kakodkar and Pitroda Committees i.e. (a) Track (b) Bridges (c) Signalling & Telecommunication (d) Rolling Stock and (e) Stations & Freight Terminals
• Work to be taken up facilitating running of 12-car rakes on Harbour line
• A National High Speed Rail Authority to be set up
• Pre-feasibility studies on six high speed corridors already completed; study on Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur to be taken up in 2012-13
• 725 km new lines, 700 km doubling, 800 km gauge conversion and 1,100 km electrification targeted in 2012-13.
• Rs 6,872 cr provided for new lines, Rs 3,393 cr for doubling, Rs 1,950 cr for gauge conversion, Rs 828 cr for electrification.

Public Private Partnerships/New Resources

• Indian Railway Station Development Corporation to be set up to redevelop stations through PPP mode
• Logistics Corporation to be set up for development & management of existing railway goods sheds and multi-modal logistics parks
• Private investment schemes for Wagon leasing, Sidings, Private Freight Terminals, Container train operations, Rail connectivity projects (R3i and R2C-i) being made more attractive to PPP partners
• New Board Member (PPP/Marketing) to be inducted
• Financial modeling of the elevated rail corridor from Churchgate to Virar firmed up with Government of Maharashtra through PPP mode.
• A pre-feasibility survey for a similar corridor between CST and Kalyan proposed.

State-Centre partnerships

• MoU signed with Government of Chhatisgarh to develop three rail corridors in state for movement of passenger and freight
• 31 projects covering a length of more than 5,000 km in 10 states being executed with contribution from state governments
• Four projects on cost sharing basis with Governments of Haryana, Andhra Pradesh & West Bengal proposed
• 12 projects on cost sharing basis with Government of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Maharashtra sent to Planning Commission for approval
• 17 projects to facilitate the first and list mile connectivity proactively sanctioned and another 28 projects identified

Connectivity to neighbouring countries

• Construction of Jogbani-Biratnagar and Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas new lines already in progress to provide connectivity to Nepal
• Project to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh to be taken up in 2012-13 Green Initiatives
• Setting up of 72 MW capacity windmill plants in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
• Setting up of 200 remote railway stations as ‘green energy stations’ powered entirely by solar energy
• Providing solar lighting system at 1,000 manned level crossing gates
• Introduction of mobile emission test cars to measure pollution level of diesel locomotives
• Commissioning of two bio diesel plants at Raipur and Tondiarpet
• Introduction of a ‘Green Train’ to run through the pristine forests of North Bengal
• 2,500 coaches to be equipped with bio toilets

Improved passenger services

• Installation of 321 escalators at important stations of which 50 will be commissioned in 2012-13
• 12 State of art mechanized laundries already set up and 6 more to become functional during 2012-13
• SMS on passenger mobile phone in case of e-ticket to be accepted as proof of valid reservation
• Introduction of regional cuisine at affordable rates; launching of Book-a ¬meal scheme to provide multiple choice of meals through SMS or email
• Setting up of AC Executive lounges at important stations
• Setting up of new Rail Neer Plants at Palur in Tamil Nadu and Ambernath in Maharashtra
• Expansion of housekeeping schemes for trains
• Introduction of Rail Bandhu on-board magazines on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Duronto trains
• Introduction of coin/currency operated ticket vending machines
• Introduction of Alternate Train Accommodation System to accommodate waitlisted passengers on alternate trains
• Introduction of model rake with world class interiors
• Upgradation of 929 stations as Adarsh Stations including 84 stations proposed in 2012-13; 490 stations have been completed so far
• Construction of multi-functional complexes at 24 locations completed
• Sale of PRS tickets through 151 post offices
• Implementation of electronic transmission of RR for freight traffic
• Introduction of satellite based real time train information system (SIMRAN) to provide train running information to passengers through SMS, internet, etc
• On board passenger displays indicating next halt station and expected arrival time to be introduced
• Specially designed coaches for differently-abled persons to be provided in each Mail/Express trains
• Engaging reputed professional agencies for pantry cars and base kitchens
• Specialised House-keeping body to be set up for cleanliness of stations and the trains
• Dedicated Railway Design Centre to be set up in the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Coaching terminals

• Survey and feasiblity study for new coaching terminals at Nemam, Kottayam, Mau and Dankuni to be taken up
• Pre-feasibility study for development of Roypuram station in Tamil Nadu for which many representations have been received
• New coaching complex at Panvel and coach maintenance complex at Kalamboli in partnership with Government of Maharashtra through CIDCO planned
• New coaching terminal at Naihati, the birth place of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay commemorating him on 175th Birth Anniversary

Railway finances 2012-13

• Highest ever plan outlay of Rs 60,100 cr
• Gross Budgetary Support – Rs 24,000 cr
• Railway Safety Fund –Rs 2,000 cr
• Internal Resources – Rs, 18,050 cr
• Market Borrowing - Rs15,000 cr
• PPP – Rs 1,050 cr.

Financial Performance 2011-12

• Loading target reduced by 23 MT to 970 MT
• Gross Traffic Receipts fixed at Rs 1,03,917 cr in RE, short by Rs 2,322 cr over Budget Estimates
• Ordinary Working Expenses fixed at Rs 75,650 cr, an increase of Rs 2,000 cr over Budget Estimates; Pension payments also up by Rs 1,000 cr.
• Current dividend liability to be fully discharged
• Excess of Rs 1,492 cr as against the budget amount of Rs 5,258 cr.
• A loan of Rs 3,000 cr extended by MoF to meet requirement of safety related works under Development Fund
• Operating Ratio of 95.0% as compared to 91.1% in Budget Estimates

Budget Estimates 2012-13

• Freight loading of 1025 MT, 55 MT more than 2011-12
• Passenger growth - 5.4 per cent
• Gross Traffic Receipts -Rs 1,32,552 cr i.e. 27.6 per cent increase over RE, 2011-¬12
• Ordinary Working Expenses – Rs 84,400 cr
• Appropriation to DRF at Rs 9,500 cr and to Pension Fund at Rs 18,500 cr
• Dividend payment estimated at Rs 6,676 cr
• Loan of Rs 3,000 cr taken in 2011-12 to be fully repaid along with interest
• Operating Ratio estimated at 84.9 per cent

New Trains

• 75 additional services to run in Mumbai suburban
• 18 additional services to be run in Chennai area
• 44 new suburban services to be introduced in Kolkata area
• 50 new services to be introduced in Kolkata Metro in 2012-13
• 75 new Express trains to be introduced
• 21 new passenger services, 9 DEMU services and 8 MEMU services to be introduced
• Run of 39 trains to be extended
• Frequency of 23 trains to be increased

Tariff Proposals

• Setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority to be considered;
• Passenger fares increased by 2 paise per km for suburban and ordinary second class; 3 paise per km for mail/express second class; 5 paise per km for sleeper class; 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier and First Class; 15 paise per km for AC 2 tier and 30 paise per km for AC I
• Fares to be rounded off to the next nearest five rupees
• Minimum fare and platform tickets to cost Rs 5
• Fuel Adjustment Component (FAC) in fares contemplated

Also Read: Indian Railways is on the brink of collapse. What it needs is a monetary push from the government to ensure self-sustainability

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