Rail Budget 2013: Highlights

February 28th, 2013

Highlights of the Rail Budget 2013-14 as presented by

Railway Minister Mr. P.K. Bansal relating to the following

Headings:

Manufacturing:

A new wheel factory to be set up at Rae Bareli A greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units

(MEMU) manufacturing facility at Bhilwara

(Rajasthan) in collaboration with State

Government and BHEL. Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up

Coach Manufacturing Unit in Sonepat District

(Haryana) in collaboration with State Government.

A Midlife Rehabilitation Workshop at Kurnool (Andhra

Pradesh) in collaboration with the State Government.

Bikaner and Pratapgarh workshops to undertake POH of BG

wagons.

A workshop for repair and rehabilitation of motorized bogies

at Misrod (Madhya Pradesh).

A new wagon maintenance workshop in Kalahandi (Odisha).

A modern signaling equipment facility at Chandigarh through

PPP route.

Environment:

Railway energy Management Company (REMC) to be set up to harness solar and wind energy

1,000 crossings to be energized by solar power

Deployment of new generation energy efficient electric

locomotives and EMUs.

More usage of agro-based and recycled paper and ban use of plastic in

catering.

Jobs:

1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up

Technology:

Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned

Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains e-ticketing via mobile phones

SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status

Smoke and fire detection system to be installed

Internet booking to be strengthened with next-generation e-

ticketing system to eliminate delays. Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013

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

Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb

feature.

Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flash

butt welding technology.

Extension of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic

Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Coin-operated Ticket

Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and schme of Jan-Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBSs).

Safety:

Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans Smoke and fire detection system to be installed

Raised four companies of women RPF personnel, and another

eight to be raised for womens safety Seventeen bridges identified for repair

Special A/C coaches Anubhuti, to be introduced in select

Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with

commensurate fareIntroduction of Train Protection Warning

System on Automatic Signalling Systems.

Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb

feature.

Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flash

butt welding technology.

Use of fire retardant furnishing materials in coaches.

Measures initiated to deal with elephant related accidents.

Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another

8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rail passengers, especially women passengers.

Recruitment to RPF with 10% vacancies reserved for women.

Introductions:

Azadi Express to be introduced to travel to places associated

with freedom struggle Common rail-bus ticket to be introduced for Katra-

Vaishnodevi pilgrims

Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330

hours Identification of 104 stations for upgradation in places with

more than one million population and of religious significance

Special A/C coaches Anubhuti, to be introduced in select

Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with

commensurate fare Fuel Adjustment Component concept to be implemented

linking tariffs

with movement of fuel prices;

Other Targets/Plans:

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

Corporate plan for 10 years to be drawn up

Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings

Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh

crore Making a Corporate Safety Plan for a ten year period (2014-

2024).

Funds:

Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi. New fund Debt Service Fund to be set up to meet

committed liabilities of debt servicing for WB and JICA loans

for DFC and other future liabilities.

Facts presented:

Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US

Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to

Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13

Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore

Fall in accidents per million accidents down from 0.41 to

0.13

Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to

Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13 Operating ratio expected to improve to 87.8 per cent in

201314 from 88.8 per cent in the current fiscal

5.2 per cent growth in passenger traffic expected in 201314

Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US

Thank you for reading.

Special edition by - Priyank.lawyer