Highlights of Railway Budget 2005-06

26 Feb 2005

• No hike in rail passenger fares
  
• Freight rates remain unchanged
  
• Plan to modernise and expand rail services
  
• Rail freight up 7.67%
  
• Railways regain share of freight market
  
• Freight growth higher than economic growth
  
• 8% growth in passenger fare income
  
• Freight target: 600 mn tonne
  
• Earning target: Rs 30,450 crore
  
• To carry 43 mn ton more freight in FY06
  
• Revenues steady in FY06
  
• Private participation to be encouraged
  
• Double 538 Kms of rail lines in FY06
  
• FY06 gauge conversion target 935 Kms
  
• 46 new trains announced.
  
• 27 trains get extension
  
• 10 trains of higher frequency
  
• Parcel rates kept unchanged
  
• Freight for kerosene to be cut by 3.7%, LPG to be cut by 2.7%.
  
• Plan to work on 150 kmph train between New Delhi & Howrah, Chennai
  
• Passenger traffic expected to rise 4%
  
• Good tariff to be made simple, rational and transparent
  
• Private participation to be encouraged
  
• Ticket- booking on Internet: Timings to be increased to 4.00 am to 11.30 pm from 8.00 am to 10. pm currently.
  
• Railways to commercially develop rail land near major stations.
  
• Surplus of Rs 6963 crore
  
• IRFC to borrow Rs 3,400 cr in FY06
  
• Private participation to be encouraged
  
• FY06 gauge conversion target 935 Kms
  
• Double 538 Kms of rail lines in FY06
  
• Spot booking of vacant berths to be allowed
  
• Rs 3645 cr of Safety Fund to be spent this year
  
• Rs 6504 cr from Railway Safety Fund spent last year
  
• New trains: Daily Chennai-Egmore-Secunderabad Express
  
• Lalu proposes double-decker containers
  
• Will allow private container companies to operate
  
• Rural children: 75% discount on second class fare
  
• Gross traffic receipts to rise from Rs 44902 cr to Rs 46785

  cr
  
• 538 km of rail lines to be doubled in FY06
  
• Farmers, milkmen to be given 50% discount on second class rail fare
  
• Gross traffic receipts for FY06 seen at Rs 50,970 cr
  
• Railways double collection of arrears in FY05