Sunday, March 1, 2015

RAILWAY BUDGET 2015-16 HIGHLIGHTS II VERSION

9 thrust areas of the Budget includes

•Indian Railway to become prime mover of economy once again
•Resource Mobilization for higher Investments
•Decongestion of heavy haul routes and speeding up of trains: emphasis on gauge conversion, doubling, tripling and electrification
•Project Delivery
•Passenger Amenities
•Safety
•Transparency & System Improvement
•Railways to continue to be the preferred mode of transport for the masses
•Sustainability

Four goals for Indian Railways to transform over next five years
• To deliver a sustained and measurable improvement in customer experience.
• To make Rail a safer means of travel.
• To expand Bhartiya Rail’s capacity substantially and modernise infrastructure: for this purpose daily passenger carrying capacity will be increased from 21 million to 30 million. Track length will also be increased by 20 percent from 114000 km to 138000 km. Annual freight carrying capacity will be grown from 1 billion to 1.5 billion tonnes.
• To make Bhartiya Rail financially self-sustainable.
PROPOSED INVESTMENT PLAN (2015-2019)
Item
Amount (Rs in crore)
Network Decongestion (including DFC, Electrification, Doubling
including electrification and traffic facilities)
199320
Network Expansion (including electrification)
193000
National Projects (North Eastern & Kashmir connectivity projects)
39000
Safety (Track renewal, bridge works, ROB, RUB and Signalling & Telecom)
127000
Information Technology / Research
5000
Rolling Stock (Locomotives, coaches, wagons – production & maintenance)
102000
Passenger Amenities
12500
High Speed Rail & Elevated corridor
65000
Station redevelopment and logistic parks
100000
Others
13200
TOTAL
8,56,020
Key Highlights of the Railway Budget 2015-16
• No increase in passenger fares
• Passengers can book tickets 120 days in advance instead of 60 days which was available till date
• Outlay for passenger amenities increased by 67 percent
• New train sets that can save 20 percent journey time will be introduced in future. These trains will be similar to bullet trains in design but can run on the existing tracks
• The speed passenger trains across nine corridors will be increased to 160-200 km from 110 km
• SMS alert will be introduced for train timings and under this passengers will be informed in advance the updated arrival or departure time of the trains at starting or destination stations
• Air-conditioned coaches for suburban trains will be introduced
• Wi-fi will be available at 400 railway stations
• Railways Intends to set up an Innovation Council called Kayakalp for Purpose of Business Re-Engineering
• Railways Proposes to set up Malaviya Chair for Railway Technology at IIT (BHU), Varanasi
• Bidding system will be used for redevelopment of stations
• 10 satellite railway stations will be developed in 2015-16
• 800 km of gauge conversion will be commissioned
• E-catering introduced in 108 trains can be accessed by ordering on IRCTC website
• Water vending machines will be expanded on more stations
• On–board entertainment facility will be extended on Shatabdi trains
• General class coaches will see introduction of mobile charging stations
• For benefit of the common man, more general class coaches will be added to select trains
• Pension funds, multi-lateral banks have evinced interest in Railways
• Proposed the best operating ratio in nine years, of 88.5 per cent for 2015-16
• Track capacity will be increased by 10 percent to 1.38 lakh kilometers
• Feasibility report of high speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is expected by mid-2015
• To ease private investment, wagon-making scheme will be reviewed
• All India 24x7 grievances helpline 138 will be started
• Bio-toilets will replace more than 7000 toilets, while 650 stations will get new toilets
• Passenger travelling unreserved can produce a ticket within 5 minutes and for this purpose Operation Five Minutes will be introduced
• To address complaints of people Mobile application is being developed
• Integrated tickets will be introduced
• Hand-held devices will be introduced for ticket checkers; it is move towards paperless ticketing
• In next 2 years, centrally managed railway display network will be introduced in over 2000 stations
• Rail-cum-road ticket to be extended in many stations
• Rail connectivity will be enhanced in North Eastern states
• To aid expanding freight handling capacity and provide end-to-end logistic solutions, Transport Logistic Corporation of India will be set up
• PPP model will be used to augment resources and generate more employment
• 6608 kilometer of track will be electrified
• 96182 crrore rupees will be spent to expand capacity of 9420 km rail lines
• For women safety, CCTVs will be introduced in selected trains and suburban trains
• Train Protection Warning System and Train Collision Avoidance System will be installed on select routes at the earliest
• Projects for rail connectivity to many ports and mines
• Foreign Rail Technology Cooperation Scheme will be launched in order to achieve the higher quality service
• Programme to improve design, quality and cleanliness of bed linen will be launched within the next six months




HIGH LIGHTS OF RAILWAY BUDGET -2015-16 I VERSION

The Railway Budget for 2015-16 is presented by Hon MR. The highlights of the budget are as follows. There are two versions. Particularly it is useful for AAO exam candidates of SR who is taking their exams on 3rd March 2015. All the best for the aspirants.


Over the next 5 years, the railways will have to transform. We have 4 goals to meet.
1.        Measureable customer experience - cleanliness, facilities
2.        Make Rails a safer way to travel
3.        Expand capacity substantially and modernize infrastructure
4.        Make 'Bhartiya Rail' financially self-sustainable
·        Transforming Railways will require us to partner with key stakeholders. We will work with the states.
·        We have fixed goals for ourselves, and are convinced that we can deliver.
The 5 drives of the Rail Budget 2015
·        Adopting a medium-term perspective
·        Building partnerships
·        Leveraging additional resources
·        Revamping management practices, systems, processes and re-tooling of human resources.
·        To set standards for governance and transparency.
Let me now turn to the 11 thrust areas of our action plan.   
·        No change in passenger fares. No hike.
·        Cleanliness is of prime importance, Integrated cleaning up will be taken up. This will include private agencies.
·        We will bring over 600 new toilets.
·        This year alone, we plan to replace 17,000 old toilets.
·        I urge to all the people, railways is your traveling home, please keep it clean.
·        Private sector to be roped in to modernise stations  Banks, pension funds keen to invest in Railways.
·        8.5 lakh crore investment in Railways in the next 5 years.\
·        Priority to significantly improve capacity over next 5 years.
·        All India 24x7 helpline number 138 to become operational to address passenger complaints on a real-time basis. This will be started in Northern Railways from April 1 and to be extended across India soon.
·        SMS alert services for passengers to inform them about arrival and departure of trains.
·        Facility to book wheelchairs for senior citizens online.
·        Mobile charging facilities in general compartments , Wi-Fi in Category B stations.
·        Surveillance cameras on select mainline and ladies compartments.
·        More general class coaches will be added to select trains for benefit of the common man.
·        We have approached NIFT and NID for better bed rolls, inner coach designs to make upper berths more accessible.
·        All newly manufactured coaches to be braille enabled.
·        On-board entertainment to be introduced in some Shatabdi trains.
·        We will introduce train sets saving 20% journey time, similar to bullet trains in design, can run on existing tracks.
·        Rs. 120 crore have been provided for lifts and escalators on railway stations.
·        We want our Railway Stations to be iconic structures reflecting the culture of that place: Union Minister Suresh Prabhu.
·        67% more funds - as compared to last year - have been allotted for passenger amenities.
·        We are committed to provide Rail connectivity to north eastern states; Meghalaya has been finally brought on the Railways' map.
·        Satellite railway terminals in major cities. Fast track highest priority works.
Investment 84% higher; 77 new projects -Doubling, tripling, quadrupling and electrification.
·        Railways must expand freight carrying capacity.
·        Transport Logistic Corporation of India to be set up to aid expanding freight handling capaity and provide end-to-end logistic solutions.
·        1330% increase in railway electrification over previous year.
·        To check the movement of empty freight trains, automatic freight rebate system launched and to will be expanded.
·        The loading density in almost all major freight trains to be upgraded which will bring immediate results.
·        Safety is of paramount importance.
·        I offer my condolences the families of all the people deceased in railway accidents and the people who lost their lives in the line of duty.
·        Audio-based warnings at unmanned railway crossings.
·        We are considering new and lighter design of wagons.
·        Improving train speed from existing 110 and 130 to 160 and 200 kms respectively so that inter-metro journey - like Delhi to Mumbai –
·        can be completed overnight.
·        Technological upgrades are important for any organisation.
·        We propose to set up, an innovation council for overall innovation of the Indian Railways.
·        We will launch a new mobile application called 'Kayakalp' to help in technology upgradation.
·        'Window to book railway tickets raised from 60 to 120 days'.
·        Malaviya Chair of Railway Technology in IIT-n BHU in Varanasi.
·        Improvement to management process and systems.
·        Railways will require new governance structure. For quick decision making.
·        917 safety work projects to eliminate over 3,000 unmanned crossings in all states. SRO,
·        RDSO, IIT Kanpur to help provide facilities for safety at unmanned level crossings
·        Rules and regulation governing freight will be simplified and made more customer-friendly.
·        We propose to get a system audit conducted across the country.
·        We also propose to get out train operations audited in the next two months.
·        We propose to spend Rs. 96,182 Crore on capacity expansion in FY16.
·        Next is energy and sustainability.
·        Environment Directorate in Railway Board.
·        Railway is the largest consumer of electricity.
·        Detailed energy audit to reveal areas to save power.
·        Open bidding for sourcing electricity.
·        Sourcing of solar power. Work in full swing.
·        We propose to launch, water conservation and water harvesting plants.
·        CNG based demo have been started in Northern Railways.
·        Transparency and governance.
·        We recruit through 21 institutes.
·        Online application for recruitment to be expanded.
·        We propose a 'Mechanism' to manage and monitor tariff, solving licensing disputes and setting performance goals.
·        This year we are celebrating 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa. We will promote Gandhi Circle for tourism.
·        I will personally monitor all the thrust areas. I am confident that I have the support of 13 lakh employees.

·        The audit for introducing new trains will be completed soon. We will be able to announce new trains in the current session of the parliament.