February 28th, 2013 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RAIL BUDGET 2013-14 AS PRESENTED BY RAILWAY MINISTER MR. P.K. BANSAL RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING HEADINGS:
MANUFACTURING:
* A new wheel factory to be set up at Rae Bareli
* A greenfield Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) manufacturing facility at Bhilwara (Rajasthan) in collaboration with State Government and BHEL.
* Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up
* Coach Manufacturing Unit in Sonepat District (Haryana) in collaboration with State Government.
* A Midlife Rehabilitation Workshop at Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) in
collaboration with the State Government. * Bikaner and Pratapgarh workshops to undertake POH of BG wagons.
* A workshop for repair and rehabilitation of motorized bogies at Misrod
(Madhya Pradesh). * A new wagon maintenance workshop in Kalahandi (Odisha).
* A modern signaling equipment facility at Chandigarh through PPP route.
ENVIRONMENT:
* Railway energy Management Company (REMC) to be set up to harness solar and wind energy
* 1,000 crossings to be energized by solar power
* Deployment of new generation energy efficient electric locomotives and EMUs.
* More usage of agro-based and recycled paper and ban use of plastic in
catering.
JOBS:
* 1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up
TECHNOLOGY:
* Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned
* Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains
* e-ticketing via mobile phones
* SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status
* Smoke and fire detection system to be installed
* Internet booking to be strengthened with next-generation e-ticketing system to eliminate delays. Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013
* 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations
* Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb feature.
* Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flash
butt welding technology. * Extension of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Coin-operated Ticket Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and schme of Jan-Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBSs).
SAFETY:
* Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans
* Smoke and fire detection system to be installed
* Raised four companies of women RPF personnel, and another eight to be raised for women's safety
* Seventeen bridges identified for repair
* Special A/C coaches 'ANUBHUTI', to be introduced in select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with commensurate fareIntroduction of Train Protection Warning System on Automatic
Signalling Systems. * Induction of crash worthy LHB coaches with anti-climb feature.
* Using 60 kg rails, 260 meter long welded rail panels and improved flash
butt welding technology. * Use of fire retardant furnishing materials in coaches.
* Measures initiated to deal with elephant related accidents.
* Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rail passengers, especially women passengers.
Recruitment to RPF with 10% vacancies reserved for women.
INTRODUCTIONS:
* Azadi Express to be introduced to travel to places associated with freedom struggle
* Common rail-bus ticket to be introduced for Katra-Vaishnodevi pilgrims
* Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
* Identification of 104 stations for upgradation in places with more than one million population and of religious significance
* Special A/C coaches 'Anubhuti', to be introduced in select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with commensurate fare
* 'Fuel Adjustment Component' concept to be implemented linking tariffs
with movement of fuel prices;
OTHER TARGETS/PLANS:
* By end of 2013-14, 1,500 km of contracts to be awarded for two dedicated rail corridors
* Rs 1 lakh crore target set for public-private-partnership route
* Corporate plan for 10 years to be drawn up
* Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings
* Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore
* Making a Corporate Safety Plan for a ten year period (2014-2024).
*
* FUNDS:
* Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi.
* New fund - Debt Service Fund - to be set up to meet committed liabilities of debt servicing for WB and JICA loans for DFC and other future liabilities.
FACTS PRESENTED:
* Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US
* Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13
* Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore
* Fall in accidents - per million accidents down from 0.41 to 0.13
* Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13
* Operating ratio expected to improve to 87.8 per cent in 2013-14 from 88.8 per cent in the current fiscal
* 5.2 per cent growth in passenger traffic expected in 2013-14
* Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US
Origin: battleforgreenearth.blogspot.com
