Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14

· Frequency of 24 trains to be increased

· 72 additional services to be introduced in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

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

· Some Railway related activities to come under MGNREGA

· Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 63,363 crore

· A new fund-Debt Service Fund set up to meet committed liabilities.

· Passenger growth 5.2% in 2013-14

· Dividend payment estimated at Rs. 6,249 crore

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

· Enhanced reservation fee abolished

· Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains

· Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours

· Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status

· Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations: Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru

· Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rain passengers, especially women passengers

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

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

· Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains

· Upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected

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

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

· Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

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

· Gallantry and policy medal for Gallantry

· Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years instead of every year.

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

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

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

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