Highlights of the railway budget - 2013-14

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RAILWAY BUDGET - 2013-14


Fares and Freight
 

• No hike in passenger fares


• Proposal for setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority formulated and at inter-ministerial consultation stage


• Fuel Adjustment Component (FAC) linked revision for freight tariff to be implemented from 1st April 2013


• Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased


• Enhanced reservation fee abolished

e-Ticketing

• ‘Aadhar’ to be used for various passenger and staff related services.


• Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours.


• e-ticketing through mobile phones.


• Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status.


• Covering larger number of trains under Real Time Information System.


• Next-Gen e-ticketing system to be rolled out capable of handling 7200 tickets per minute against 2000 now & 1.20 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 now.

New Trains

• 67 new Express trains to be introduced


• 26 new passenger services, 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced


• Run of 57 trains to be extended


• Frequency of 24 trains to be increased

Metropolitan Projects/Sub-urban Services

• Introduction of first AC EMU rake on Mumbai suburban network in 2013-14


• Introduction of 72 additional services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata


• Rake length increased from 9 cars to 12 cars for 80 services in Kolkata and 30 services in Chennai

Passenger/Rail Users’ Amenities

• Identification of 104 important stations for immediate attention to all aspects related to cleanliness.


• Progressive extension of bio-toilets on trains.


• Provision of concrete aprons on platforms with mechanized cleaning facilities.


• Extension of On Board Housekeeping Scheme and Clean Train Stations to more stations and trains.


• 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).


• Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.


• Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback.


• 8-10 more mechanized laundries for quality washing of linen.


• Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains.


• Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains.


• Upgrading another 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected.


• Associate voluntary organizations for providing first aid services at railway stations.


• Introduction of an ‘Anubhuti’ coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services.


• 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently abled.


• Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly.


• Some JTBS to be reserved for disabled people.


• Curbing malpractices in reserved tickets including tatkal scheme.


• Third party audit and tie up with food testing laboratories for food quality control; ISO certified state-of-the-art base kitchens to be set up in railway premises.


• Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321) Rail Tourism

Measures for improving Safety & Security

• Making a Corporate Safety Plan for a ten year period (2014-2024).


• Elimination of 10797 level crossings during the 12th Plan and no addition of new LCs to the IR system henceforth.


• Introduction of Train Protecti on Warning System on Automatic Signalling Systems.


• Rigorous trials of the indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System


• Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flaash butt welding technology.


• Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains.


• Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb feature.


• Rehabilitation of identified 17 distressed bridges over next one year.


• Provision of comprehensive fire and smoke detection systems.


• Provision of portable fire extinguishers in Guard-cum-Brake Vans, AC Coaches and Pantry Cars in all trains.


• 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.

Rail Based Industries

• New factories/workshops to be set up: a new Forged Wheel Factory at Rae Bareli in collaboration with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited.


• a Greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) manufacturing facility at Bhilwara (Rajasthan) in collaboration with State Government and BHEL.


• a Coach Manufacturing Unit in S onepat 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.

Green Initiatives

• Setting up of Railway Energy Management Company (REMC) to harness potential of solar and wind energy.


• Setting up of 75 MW capacity windmill plants and energizing 1000 level crossings with 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 incatering.
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Rail Tourism

• Launching multi-modal travel package in cooperation with Jammu & Kashmir state government.


• Issuing ‘Yatra Parchis’ to pilgrims travelling by rail to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at the time of railway ticket booking.


• Introduction of an educational tourist train with concessional fares -‘Azadi Express’ – to connect places associated with freedom movement.


• Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations, namely, Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru.

Financial Performance 2012-13

• Loading target revised to 1007 MT against 1025 MT in BE.


• Gross Traffic Receipts fixed at 1,25,680 cr in RE, short by 6,872 cr over Budget Estimates.


• Ordinary Working Expenses retained at BE level of 84,400 cr; pension payments increased by 1,500 cr to 20,000 cr.


• Dividend liability to government to be fully discharged.


• ‘Excess’ of 10,409 cr as against the budget amount of 15,557 cr.


• Loan of 3,000 cr taken in 2011-12 fully repaid along with interest.


• Operating Ratio of 88.8% as compared to 94.9% in 2011-12.

Budget Estimates 2013-14

• Freight loading of 1047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13.


• Passenger growth - 5.2%.


• Gross Traffic Receipts -1,43,742 cr i.e. an increase of 18,062 cr over RE, 2012-13.


• Ordinary Working Expenses -96,500 cr.


• Appropriation to DRF at 7,500 cr and to Pension Fund at 22,000 cr.


• Dividend payment estimated at 6,249 cr.


• Operating Ratio to be 87.8%.


• Fund Balances to exceed 12,000 cr.

Annual Plan 2013-14

• Highest ever plan outlay of 63363 cr


• Gross Budgetary Support -26,000 cr


• Railway Safety Fund - 2,000 cr


• Internal Resources - 14,260 cr


• EBR - Market Borrowing - 15,103 cr


• EBR - PPP - 6,000 cr


• 500 km new lines, 750 km doubling, 450 km gauge conversion targeted in 2013-14

Fiscal Discipline

• No supplementary Demands for Grants introduced in Monsoon Session or Winter Session of Parliament


• Loan of 3,000 cr repaid fully


• 347 projects prioritized with assured funding


• Operationally important projects and also last mile projects to receive liberal funding


• A new fund – Debt Service Fund – set up to meet committed liabilities


• Stringent targets for efficiencies in maintenance of rolling stock and fuel consumption


• Target to create fund balance of 30,000 cr in the terminal year of the 12th Plan

Staff Welfare

• Fund allocation for staff quarters enhanced to Rs 300 cr


• Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all divisional headquarters


• Extending treatment facility in case of medical emergency to RELHS beneficiaries to all cities in hospitals empanelled with CGHS and Railways


• Condition of barracks to be improved for RPF personnel


• Provision of water closets and air conditioners in the locomotive cabs to avoid stress being faced by loco pilots

Training and Recruitment

• 1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged


• Imparting skills to the youth in railway related trades in 25 locations


• Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for training in rail related electronics technologies


• Setting up of a centralized training institute at Secunderabad – Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM)


• Five fellowships in national universities to be instituted to motivate students to study and undertake research on IR related issues at M.Phil and Ph.D. levels


• Setting up of a chair at TERI promoting railway related research to reduce carbon footprint

Sports

• Railway Teams won 9 National Championships in 2012


• Railway Sports Promotion Board awarded the ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar – 2012’

Concessions

• Complimentary card passes to recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Dhyan Chand Awards to be valid for travel by 1 st Class/2nd AC


• Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya


• Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains


• Travel by Duronto Trains permitted on all card passes issued to sportpersons having facility of travel by Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains


• Facility of complimentary card passes valid in 1st class/2nd AC extended to parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and Police Medal for Gallantry


• Police Gallantry awardees to be granted one complimentary pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2nd AC in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains


• Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years

Some Achievements/Initiatives

• IR enters the one billion tonne Select Club joining Chinese, Russian and US Railways;


• IR also joins Select Club running freight trains of more than 10000 tonne load;


• ‘Fuel Adjustment Component’ concept to be implemented linking tariffs with movement of fuel prices;


• Target of Rs 1000 crore each fixed for Rail Land Development Authority and IR Station Development Corporation to be raised through PPP in2013-14;


• 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.