2015-16 Railway Budget: Prabhu announces no hike in Passenger fares , no new trains
26 Feb, New Delhi
No hike in railway passenger fares , making rail a safer means of travel specially for women, improving passenger amenities including cleanliness, and making Railways financially self sustainable are some of the highlights of the Railway budget 2015-16.
However, there was no announcement of new trains this year.
Presenting his maiden rail budget to Parliament Thursday , Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said over the next five years, the Indian Railways has to go through a transformation. By 2019, the minister said the proposed investment in Railways will be eight lakh fifty six thousand twenty crore rupees.
Giving priority on safe, soothing passenger travel, Prabhu said that 67 percent more funds would be spent for passenger amenities and five year corporate safety plan would be prepared to reduce accidents.
As a step to curb ticket agents, he said that 120 days window period will be given to passengers to book ticket. There will be SMS alerts for passengers on train arrivals, he said.
To make the Railways financially sustainable , he said , the thrust of the Railways is to become prime mover of economy once again, resource mobilisation for higher investments, decongestion of heavy haul routes and speeding up of trains, emphasis on gauge conversion, doubling, tripling and electrification.
The Railway Minister who attached much importance on long term institutional reforms of Railways in his speech , announced that as many as 77 railway projects for expansion would be taken up next year at an estimated cost of Rs,96,000 crore
Mentioning Swachh Rail ,Swachh Bharat slogan , he said professional agencies will be engaged for cleanliness. There will be e-catering to select meals from an array of choices and passenger can order food through IRCTC website at the time of booking of tickets in the coming days.
The Minister said wi-fi will be provided at B category stations. Amidst thumping of desks by members, the minister announced for safety of women passengers, surveillance cameras will be provided on a pilot basis in selected mainline coaches and ladies compartments without compromising on privacy and sms alert service will also be introduced to inform passengers in advance the updated arrival and departure timings of the trains.
Railway will use the “Nirvaya Funds” for Women security in Railways, he said.
An all India 24×7 helpline number, 138, will become functional to attend to the problems of passengers from March 1.
Giving much relief to the general public travelling in unreserved class, the minister announced introduction of operation five minutes to ensure that a passenger travelling unreserved can purchase a ticket within five minutes.
The Minister said that as many as 3000 unmanned crossings would be eliminated in one years time and Rs.2000 crore has been provided for coastal connectivity. The track capacity would be increase to 10 percent to 1.38 lakh Kms, he said.