New Delhi, July 3 (Inditop.com) Following are the highlights of the rail budget for the current fiscal presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha Friday:
– Rs.25 pass for unorganised sector employees of income below Rs.1,500 up to 100 km
– New “Yuva” fully air-conditioned train for youth
– Yuva fares Rs.299 up to a distance of 1,500 km and Rs.399 up to 2,500 km
– Student concession to be extended to madarssa students
– Student concession of 60 percent on Kolkata Metro
– Introduction of trains for women during peak seasons
– 12 non-stop trains
– New train information system to be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi
– 50 mobile rail ticket vans to be introduced
– ATMs on 200 mid- and small-sized stations
– Integrated security scheme for 140 vulnerable stations
– Setting up of a 1,000 MW power plant
– Special recruitment drive for the physically challenged, minorities
– Committee under Sam Pitroda to commercialise railways’ optic fibre network
– Private operation of freight terminals to be encouraged
– One doctor to be posted on each long distance train
– New factory in West Bengal for making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually
– “Janta khana” (peoples’ food) to be provided at railway stations
– Railways will not be guided by economic viability, but by social commitment
– Seven nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouses
– Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private partnership model
– Cold storages and cargo facilities to eliminate wastage of perishables
– 50 world class stations to be developed on public-private partnership model
– 309 out of 375 stations will be developed with modern facilities
– 50 stations at tourist, religious places to have integrated facilities
– Infotainment facilities on Rajdhani Express for long distance passengers
– Unreserved ticketing systems to be expanded from 5,000 to 8,000 terminals
– Passengers can buy unreserved tickets at 5,000 post offices
– Air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel
– SMS updates for wait-listed passengers
– 200 automatic vending machines at key stations for selling tickets
– Discount for press correspondents increased from 30 to 50 percent
– Discount of 60 percent on fare if press correspondents travel with spouse
