Rail Budget 2015 Highlights:
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Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has presented the Narendra Modi-led BJP government's first full year Rail Budget today (26th February 2015). He presented a passenger friendly budget by ruling out any further hike in ticket fares but went high on raising passenger comfort through greater cleanliness on trains and stations, enhancing safety levels, reduce travel time between metros by introducing bullet like trains and declared that Rs 8.5 lakh crores would be invested in the next five years to up amenities. Fare hike was spared mainly due to falling oil prices which included diesel, the lifeline of Indian Railways.
He announced a record investment plan of over Rs. 1 lakh crore in 2015-16. Outlining his vision for Indian Railways in his budget speech he talked about four main goals that PM Narendra Modi government will work on to get railways out of its abysmal state. Those are,
Goal One : Customer Experience to receive huge boost
Goal Two : Safer Travel for Rail Passengers
Goal Three : Modernise Railway Infrastructure
Goal Four : Make Indian railways financial viable
Key Themes of the Budget were in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives - Swachch Bharat Mission, Make in India and Digital India.
》There is no increase in passsenger rail fares.
》No new trains announced.
》Plan Outlay proposed Rs. 1,00,011 crore, increased by 52%
》Allocation for passenger amenities up by 67%
》Rs.8.5 lakh crore will be invested in Railways in next 5 years.
》'Operation 5 mins', wherein passengers travellling unreserved can purchase a ticket in 5 minutes.
》Bio toilets and airplane-type vaccum toilets in trains.
》Rs 1,000 Nirbhaya Fund, which was lying idle so far, will finally board a train to provide women's safety.
》Surveillance cameras in select coaches and ladies compartments for women's safety without compromising on privacy.
》Rail tickets can now be booked 120 days in advance.
》The speed of nine railway corridors will be increased to 160 and 200 kmph
200 more stations to come under Adarsh Station scheme.
》Wi-Fi in more stations, mobile phone charging facilities in all train compartments.
》Facility of online booking of wheelchair for senior citizens.
Satellite railway terminals in major cities.
》Centrally managed Rail Display Network is expected to be introduced in over 2K stations over the next 2 years.
》All India 24/7 helpline - 138 from March 2015 ; Toll free No.182 for security.
》917 road under-bridges and over-bridges to be constructed to replace 3,438 railway crossings; at a cost of Rs. 6,581 crore.
》Four Railway Research Centres to start in four universities.
17000 more toilets to be replaced by bio-toilets.
》A mobile application to address complaints of people is also being developed.
》SMS alert services for passengers to inform them about arrival and departure of trains.
》The facility of e-ticketing to go paper less.
》24 to 26 coaches in certain identified trains, more general class coaches, ladders to be replaced.
》Introduction of integrated ticketing will be done, a Defence travel system has been developed to make travel easier.
》Mobile application to address complaints of people is also being developed.
》Satellite railway terminals in 10 major cities.
》Railways to become prime mover of Indian Economy, Five years action plan proposed.Thrust on measurable and sustainable improvement in passenger experience and to make Rail a safer means of travel Hot buttons, coin vending machines for railway tickets within 5 minutes, e-catering to select meals from an array of choices
More General class coaches will be added in identified trains.
》Train Protection Warning System and Train Collision Avoidance System to be installed on select routes
Investment 84% higher, 77 new projects covering 9,400 km of doubling/tripling/quadrupling works proposed.
》Cleanliness in Railways highest priority under Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat.
》A new department for keeping stations and trains clean under Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat Abhiyan .
