Railway Budget: Highlights

- No increase in passenger fares across classes- Tatkal scheme to be reduced to 2 days- Special passes for workers from unorganised sector- Janta khana to be provided at railway stations- 7 nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouses- Surveys for new lines in North East- Rs. 1750 cr for gauge conversion- Kolkata Metro to get more extensions- Staff quarters increased by 49%- Yuva trains for young generation to be introduced- Dozen 'Turant' trains to be introduced- 'Izzat': Monthly pass for Rs.25 to travel upto 100 kms- Press correspondents to get 50% concession- Railways to introduce 67 new trains- Mechanised laundry to be provided at key stations- Mega logistics hubs in Eastern and Western corridor- New policy to allow private freight terminal

Following are the highlights of the rail budget for the current fiscal presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha on Friday:

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- No increase in passenger, freight fares

- Rs.1,102 crore allocated towards improving passenger amenities

- Kolkata metro to be extended

- Rs.50 billion increase in budgetary support in 2009-10

- Freight target for 2009-10 set at 882 million tonnes

- Target set in interim budget unrealistic

- Freight cargo increased 5 percent in 2008-09

- One doctor to be posted on each long distance train

- Rs.25 monthly pass for unorganised sector employees with income below Rs.1,500 for travel 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

- 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