No hike in passenger, freight rates; 73 new trains announced

Presenting the Railway Budget for the 2014-15 financial year in Parliament today, minister of railways Mallikarjun Kharge announced 72 new trains, extension of three trains and increase in frequency of three trains. The minister also kept passenger fares and freight rates unchanged.

The budget, which puts emphasis on passenger and railway safety, proposes elimination of all unmanned railway crossing, numbering about 54,000.

The minister also announced a number of measures for safety and security of passengers like portable fire-extinguishers in coaches and induction based cooking in pantry cars.

Kharge, in his budget also announced plans to introduce 73 new trains, which include 17 premium trains, 39 express trains, 10 passenger trains, 4 MEMUs and 3 DEMUs during the 2014-15 financial year.

Three trains will be extended and frequency of an equal number of trains will be increased.

The Railway Budget 2014-15 envisages investment of Rs64,305 crore against the revised estimates for 2013-14 of Rs59,359 crore.

Anticipating a healthier growth of economy, the freight traffic target is proposed at 1,101 million tonnes, an increment of 49.7 million tonnes over the current years' revised target of about 1,052 million tonnes.

Gross traffic receipts have been projected at Rs1,60,775 crore . Working expenses have been proposed at Rs1,10,649 crore, which is Rs13,589 crore higher than the revised estimates for the current year.

Highlighting the passenger friendly initiatives of Indian Railways, the minister said the success of e-booking of tickets has surpassed all expectations, and now train movements can also be tracked online to find the exact location and running. 

Besides, 51 Jan-Ahaar outlets for sale of Janta Meals have been set up; 48 passenger escalators have been commissioned at railway stations and 61 more are being installed and air-conditioned EMU services will commence in Mumbai area by July 2014.

North East connectivity
The Railways will shortly commission the Harmuti-Naharlagun rail line, which will connect Itanagar, capital of Arunachal Pradesh with the rest of the country and thereby bringing the state into the country's railway map.

Meghalaya is also all set to come on the railway map in this financial year, with the Dudhnoi – Mehendipathar line getting completed by March 2014, the minister added.

High-speed corridor
Briefing about Railways efforts for moderation of its network Kharge said a joint feasibility study for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, started in December 2013, will be completed in 18 months.

Besides, Indian Railways also plans to explore low-cost options for raising speeds to 160-200 kmph on existing select routes like Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Chandigarh.

Private sector entry
The minister said that the Railways is stepping by partnership with the private sector to increase investments. PPP projects related to rolling stock manufacturing units, modernisation of railway stations, multi-functional complexes, logistics parks, private freight terminal, freight train operations, liberalised wagon investment schemes and dedicated freight corridors are in the pipeline.

Apart from attracting investments from domestic investors, a proposal is under consideration of the government to enable foreign direct investment (FDI) to foster creation of world class rail infrastructure.

PPP projects related to rolling stock manufacturing units, modernisation of railway stations, multi-functional complexes, logistics parks, private freight terminal, freight train operations, liberalised wagon investment schemes, and dedicated freight corridors are in the pipeline and offer excellent opportunities for private investment in the 12th Plan, he said.

Apart from attracting private investments from domestic investors in rail sector, the government is considering a proposal to enable foreign direct investment (FDI) to foster creation of world class rail infrastructure.

A Rail Land Development Authority set up to address the task of optimum utilisation of railway land, had set a target of raising Rs1,000 crore in the budget 2013-14 and has already raised Rs937 crore so far.

To catalyse creation of rail infrastructure for overall national growth, state governments of Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana have agreed to share cost of several rail projects in their respective areas.

While efforts of the government to provide precious financial resources for growth of Indian Railways would continue, the minister said, the phenomenal investment needs of rail infrastructure cannot be met entirely through budgetary support, internal generation and market borrowing. The Railways have, therefore, started targeting private investment in rail infrastructure to bridge the gap.

Railway safety
Reiterating Railways' commitment or safety and security of passengers the minister said several measures have been and are being taken for further strengthening railway safety. 

Towards this, he said the Railways has taken up manning or elimination of all unmanned level crossings as also the induction of indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and provision of Vigilance  Control  Device (VCD) in all electric and diesel locomotives.

Towards this end, a total of 5,400 unmanned level crossings were eliminated – 2,310 by manning and 3,090 by closure / merger / construction of ROBs/RUBs during the last five years, the minister pointed out.

He said that a comprehensive fire and smoke detection system is on trial on two rakes of Rajdhani Express trains.

This will be extended to all major passenger trains. Provision of portable fire extinguishers in AC coaches, Guard-cum-luggage break vans, pantry cars and locomotives. Introduction of electrical induction based cooking appliances in replacement of LPG in pantries is being taken up.

Modernisation & beautification
With a view to improving aesthetic ambience along the track close to the approach of major stations, the railway minister announced the creation of 'Green Curtains' at Agra and Jaipur stations on a pilot basis. He said bio-toilets have been introduced in about 2,500 coaches. It is proposed to increase the coverage progressively.

Higher targets
Railways minister said given the promising trend of loading, the freight target for the 2014-15 fiscal has been scaled up to about 1,052 million tonnes from the budget target of 1,047 million tonnes and freight earnings target has been revised to Rs94,000 crore.

He also announced that an independent Rail Tariff Authority is being set-up to advise the government on fixing of fares and freight rates.