Railway budget 2009 - Railway budget highlights

Railway budget 2009 highlights are good for common people and Indian Railways Minister Mamta Banerjee has kept her promise in her first Railway budget. Mamta Banerjee presented a promised ‘pro-people’ budget, the railway minister said that economic viability is not the only index of development, according top priority to social commitment.

“People expect to get better rail and train facilities. Development should not be restricted to only few people. People want better connectivity between stations in the nation. My priorities will include better passenger amenities, safety and security and provision of good quality food and drinking water” - Mamta Banerjee Railways Minister

No hike in passenger fares and freight rates, non-stop trains between a many key stations, air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel, sale of tickets at 5,000 post offices and automatic vending machines at 200 stations were the highlights of her Budget.

Here are the highlights of Railway Budget 2009-10:

Passenger fares: No hike
Freight charges: No hike
Medical facilities on Trains: One doctor to be posted on each long distance train (But where are doctors in this country - we do not get docs for villages - who will do this traveling job?)
For Poor: Rs.25 monthly pass (Ijjat) for unorganised sector employees (income below Rs 1,500) for travel up to 100 km
For Young: 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
Votebank items:
- Student concession to be extended to madarssa students
- Special recruitment drive for the physically challenged, minorities
For Women: Introduction of trains for women during peak seasons
Non Stop Trains: 12 non-stop trains called “Turant”
Buy tickets in your neighbourhood: 50 mobile rail ticket vans to be introduced (only if they will keep working)
Cash on Rail: ATMs on 200 mid and small-sized stations
Fight against Terror: Integrated security scheme for 140 vulnerable stations
Information Technology
- Commercialise railways’ optic fibre network
- New train information system to be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi
- Infotainment facilities on Rajdhani Express for long distance passengers
- SMS updates for wait-listed passengers
Privatization
- Private operation of freight terminals to be encouraged
“Janta khana” (peoples’ food) to be provided at railway stations
Railway in Education
- Seven nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouses
- Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private partnership model (But why railways needs to get into education? Why not engineering college first?)
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
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
200 automatic vending machines at key stations for selling tickets
Keeping the media and press happy: Discount for press correspondents increased from 30 to 50% and Discount of 60% on fare if press correspondents travel with spouse. (It seems media has written too bad about Mamtaji during Tata Motors Issue - now it is time to give some and take some goodies)
For Kolkata & West Bengal
- Kolkata metro to be extended
- Student concession of 60 percent on Kolkata Metro
- Setting up of a 1,000 MW power plant in West Bengal
- New factory in West Bengal for making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually
Some (Useless) Statistics
- Rs 50 billion increase in budgetary support in 2009-10
- Freight target: 882 million tonnes
- Freight cargo increased 5% in 2008-09