INDIA: Railway Budget 2012-13 at a Glance

75 New Express Trains, 21 New Passenger Services, 9 DEMU And 8 MEMU Services

137 Services New Sub-Urban Services to Come Up in Mumbai, Chennai & Kolkata

725 Km New Lines to Be Introduced

A Green Train and 200 Green Energy Stations Proposed

Special Coaches For Differently- Abled Persons

Emphasis on Infrastrucurure Development – 5 Focus Aras Identified

19000 Km Rail Tracks to BE Modernised

Mission-Mode Approach for Rail Modernisation

Minor Incrase in Passanger Fares

A Slew of Passenger Amenities Being Introduced.

The Chairman, Railway Board, Vinay Mittal addressing the Post

Railway Budget Press Conference, in New Delhi on March 14, 2012. Photo © PIB

NEW DELHI (PIB) --- The Railway Budget presented by Minister of Railways Dinesh Trivedi in Parliament today seeks to raise investment in modernization and upgradation of rail infrastructure. It gives very high priority to rail safety and security. Passenger fares have been increased marginally.  Presenting the Railway Budget 2012-13 in Parliament today,  Trivedi proposed a Budget with highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 60,100 crore which provides Rs. 6,872 crore for new railway lines and significant funds for passengers safety, security and amenities.

   

In this Budget, the Railway Minister has focused on five important fields, which are: Safety; Consolidation; Decongestion & Capacity Augmentation; Modernization; and to bring down the Operating Ratio from 95% to 84.9% in 2012-13.

  

The marginal increase in passenger fares is as follows:

 

By 2 paise per km for suburban and  ordinary second class; 3 paise per km for mail/express second class; 5 paise per km for sleeper class; 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier and First Class; 15 paise per km for AC 2 tier and 30 paise per km for AC I.  The fares will be rounded off to the next nearest five rupees and the minimum fares and platform tickets will cost Rs. 5. 

In the Railway Budget, the Minister has proposed 75 new Express trains, 21 new passenger services, 9 DEMU services and 8 MEMU services.  Trivedi also announced the extension of the 39 trains; increase in the frequency of 23 trains; 75 additional services to run in Mumbai suburban; 44 new suburban services to be introduced in Kolkata area; 50 new services to be introduced in Kolkata Metro; and 18 additional services to be run in Chennai area.  

The Railway Budget for 2012-13 also provides for 50% concession in fare in AC-2, AC-3, Chair Car & Sleeper classes to patients suffering from ‘Aplastic Anaemia’ and ‘Sickle Cell Anaemia’. It also provides for extending the facility of travel by Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to Arjuna Awardees. The travel distance under ‘Izzat Scheme’ has also been increasd from 100 kms to 150 kms. 

Proposing highest ever plan outlay for the Railway Budget, the Railway Minister said that it will be financed through Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs 24,000 crore; Railway Safety Fund of Rs 2,000 crore; internal resources  of Rs 18,050 crore; and Extra Budgetary Resources of Rs 16,050 crore, which includes market borrowing of Rs 15,000  crore through IRFC.  

The Railway Budget provides for 725 km new lines; 700 km doubling; 800 km gauge conversion and 1,100 km electrification. Rs 6,872 crore have been provided for new lines; Rs 3,393 crore for doubling; Rs 1,950 crore for gauge conversation and Rs 828 crore have been provided for electrification.  

The Railway Budget 2012-13 lays emphasis on safety and security of the passengers.  Dinesh Trivedi said that drawing from the recommendations of the Anil Kakodkar and Sam Pitroda Committees, he has chosen five focus areas. These are: Track; Bridges; Signalling & Telecommunication; Rolling Stock; and Stations & Freight Terminals. Under this a Railway Safety Authority has been proposed as statutory regulatory body; Missions will be created to implement the modernization programme; and setting up of a Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority is to be considered. Two new Board Members (Safety/Research and PPP/Marketing) are to be inducted.   Trivedi also announced the setting up of a Rail-Road Grade Separation Corporation to eliminate level crossings.

Three ‘Safety Villages’ will also be set up at Bengaluru, Kharagpur and Lucknow for skill development for disaster management. The Railway Minister also announced that an Indian Railway Station Development Corporation will be set up to redevelop stations through PPP mode. He also announced that a Logistics Corporation will be set up for development & management of existing railway goods sheds and multi-modal logistics parks. A National High Speed Rail Authority is also to be set-up.

 

Highlighting the efforts being made to improve the amenities and to provide better experience to the passengers at stations the Railway Minister said that 929 stations will be upgraded as Adarsh Stations including 84 stations proposed in 2012-13.  Specially designed coaches for differently-abled persons will be provided in each Mail/Express trains. RPF helpline will be integrated with the All India Passenger Helpline. SMS on passenger mobile phone in case of e-ticket will be accepted as proof of valid reservation.

Satellite based real time train information system (SIMRAN) will be introduced to provide train running information to passengers through SMS, internet, etc. On board passenger displays indicating next halt station and expected arrival time will be introduced. 321 escalators will be installed at important stations of which 50 will be commissioned in 2012-13. Regional cuisine will be introduced at affordable rates.

The Railway Minister also announced launching of Book-a-meal scheme to provide multiple choices of meals through SMS or email. Coin/currency operated ticket vending machines will be introduced during 2012-13. Rail Bandhu on-board magazines will be distributed on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Duronto trains. The Railway Budget 2012-13 also proposes setting up of AC Executive lounges at important stations.

 

The Railway Minister announced that pre-feasibility studies on six high speed corridors have already been completed and study on Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur will be taken up in 2012-13.  

Announcing the measures for the welfare of railway employees, the Minister proposed a wellness programme for railway staff at their work places; ensuring proper rest for skilled and technical staff including the running crew; and institution of ‘Rail Khel Ratna’ Award for 10 rail sports-persons every year.  

Caring for the environment, the Railway Minister announced the introduction of a ‘Green Train’ to run through the pristine forests of North Bengal; 200 remote railway stations will be set up as ‘green energy stations’ powered entirely by solar energy; solar lighting system will be provided at 1,000 manned level crossing gates;  2,500 coaches will be equipped with bio toilets.  Dinesh Trivedi also announced setting up of 72 MW capacity windmill plants in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.  

The Minister said that during 2011-12 the railways recruited over 80,000 persons to fill up various vacancies; now he proposes to recruit over one lakh persons during 2012-13 so that backlog of SC/ST/OBC and other categories will be wiped off.  

The Minister announced that freight loading during 2012-13 is expected to be 1,025 MT which will be 55 MT more than 2011-12. The passenger growth during the year is pegged at 5.4%.  

Highest Ever Plan Outlay of Rs.60, 000 crore

Highlights of Railway Budget 2012-13

• Passenger fares increased marginally. The increase will be by 2 paise per km for suburban and ordinary second class; 3 paise per km for mail/express second class; 5 paise per km for sleeper class; 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier and First Class; 15 paise per km for AC 2 tier and 30 paise per km for AC I.

• Minimum fare and platform tickets to cost Rs. 5.

• 50% concession in fare in AC-2, AC-3, Chair Car & Sleeper classes to patients suffering from ‘Aplastic Anaemia’ and ‘Sickle Cell Anaemia’.

• Extending the facility of travel by Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to Arjuna Awardees.

• Travel distance under ‘Izzat Scheme’ to increase from 100 kms to 150 kms.

• SMS on passenger mobile phone in case of e-ticket to be accepted as proof of valid reservation.

• Introduction of satellite based real time train information system (SIMRAN) to provide train running information to passengers through SMS, internet, etc.

• On board passenger displays indicating next halt station and expected arrival time to be introduced.

• Installation of 321 escalators at important stations of which 50 will be commissioned in 2012-13.

• Introduction of regional cuisine at affordable rates; launching of Book-a-meal scheme to provide multiple choices of meals through SMS or email.

• Introduction of coin/currency operated ticket vending machines.

• Upgradation of 929 stations as Adarsh Stations including 84 stations proposed in 2012-13; 490 stations have been completed so far.

• Specially designed coaches for differently-abled persons to be provided in each Mail/Express trains.

• Introduction of Rail Bandhu on-board magazines on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and Duronto trains.

• Setting up of AC Executive lounges at important stations

• 75 new Express trains to be introduced.

• 21 new passenger services, 9 DEMU services and 8 MEMU services to be introduced.

• Run of 39 trains to be extended.

• Frequency of 23 trains to be increased.

• 75 additional services to run in Mumbai suburban; 44 new suburban services to be introduced in Kolkata area, 50 new services to be introduced in Kolkata Metro; 18 additional services in Chennai area.

• 725 km new lines, 700 km doubling, 800 km gauge conversion and 1,100 km electrification targeted in 2012-13.

• Rs 6,872 cr provided for new lines, Rs 3,393 cr for doubling, Rs 1,950 cr for gauge conversation, Rs 828 cr for electrification

• Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 60,100 cr

• Rae Bareli coach factory manufactured 10 coaches in 2011-12; phase-II of the factory would be commissioned in 2012-13.

• A wagon factory to be set up at Sitapali (Ganjam District of Odisha)

• A rail coach factory with the support of Government of Kerala to be set up at Palakkad; two additional new manufacturing units for coaches to be established in the Kutch area in Gujarat and at Kolar in Karnataka with active participation of the State Governments.

• Setting up of a factory at Shyamnagar in West Bengal to manufacture next generation technology propulsion system for use in high power electric locomotives.

• Creating Missions as recommended by Pitroda Committee to implement the modernization programme.

• Setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority to be considered.

• New Board Members for Safety/Research and PPP/Marketing to be inducted.

• Rail-Road Grade Separation Corporation to be set up to eliminate level crossings.

• Indian Railway Station Development Corporation to be set up to redevelop stations through PPP mode.

• Logistics Corporation to be set up for development & management of existing railway goods sheds and multi-modal logistics parks.

• National High Speed Rail Authority to be set-up.

• Pre-feasibility studies on six high speed corridors already completed; study on Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur to be taken up in 2012-13.

• Introduction of a ‘Green Train’ to run through the pristine forests of North Bengal.

• Setting up of 200 remote railway stations as ‘green energy stations’ powered entirely by solar energy.

• Providing solar lighting system at 1,000 manned level crossing gates.

• 2,500 coaches to be equipped with bio toilets.

• Setting up of 72 MW capacity windmill plants in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

• Installation of Integrated Security System at all 202 identified stations to be completed in 2012-13.

• Escorting of trains by RPF/GRP extended to 3,500 trains.

• Integration of RPF helpline with the All India Passenger Helpline.

• Setting up of a Railway Safety Authority as a statutory regulatory body as recommended by Kakodkar Committee

• . Three ‘Safety Villages’ to be set up at Bengaluru, Kharagpur and Lucknow for skill development for disaster management.

• Over one lakh persons to be recruited in 2012-13 – backlog of SC/ST/OBC and other categories to be wiped off.

• Introduction of a wellness programme for railway staff at their work places.

• Ensuring proper rest for skilled and technical staff including the running crew.

• Institution of ‘Rail Khel Ratna’ Award for 10 rail sports-persons every year.

• New coaching terminal at Naihati, the birth place of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay commemorating him on 175th Birth Anniversary.

• .Project to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh to be taken up in 2012-13.

• Freight loading of 1,025 MT targeted; 55 MT more than 2011-12

• Passenger growth targeted at 5.4 %.

List of new Express Trains, Passenger Trains, MEMU, DEMU, Extension of run and increase in frequency of trains announced in Railway Budget 2012-13.

1. Kamakhya-Lokmanya Tilak (T) AC Express (Weekly) via Katihar, Mughalsarai, Itarsi
2. Secunderabad-Shalimar AC Express (Weekly) via Vijayawada
3. Bandra (T)- Bhuj AC Express (Tri-Weekly)
4. Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Udhampur AC Express (Tri-Weekly)via Ambala, Jalandhar
5. Coimbatore-Bikaner AC Express (Weekly) via Roha, Vasai Road, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur
6. Kakinada-Secunderabad AC Express (Tri-weekly)
7. Yesvantpur-Kochuveli AC Express (Weekly)
8. Chennai-Bangalore AC Double-decker Express (Daily)
9. Habibganj-Indore AC Double-decker Express (Daily)
10. Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express (6 days a week) via Malda Town
11. Kamakhya-Tezpur Intercity Express (Daily)
12. Tiruchchirappalli-Tirunelveli Intercity Express (Daily) via Madurai, Virudunagar
13. Jabalpur-Singrauli Intercity Express (Daily) via New Katni Jn.
14. Bidar-Secunderabad Intercity Express (6 days a week)
15. Kanpur-Allahabad Intercity Express (Daily)
16. Chhapra-Manduadih Intercity Express (Daily) via Phephna, Rasra, Mau, Aunrihar
17. Ranchi-Dumka Intercity Express (Daily) via Deoghar
18. Barbil-Chakradharpur Intercity Express (Daily) via Dongoaposi, Jhinkpani
19. Secunderabad-Belampalli Intercity Express (Daily) via Kazipet
20. New Jalpaiguri-New Cooch Behar Intercity Express (5 days a week)
21. Ahmedabad-Ajmer Intercity Express (Daily)
22. Dadar (T) – Tirunelveli Express (Weekly) via Roha, Coimbatore, Erode
23. Visakhapatnam-Chennai Express (Weekly)
24. Visakhapatnam-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Weekly) via Vijayawada, Manmad
25. Indore-Yesvantpur Express (Weekly) via Itarsi, Narkher, Amravati, Akola, Kacheguda
26. Ajmer-Haridwar Express (Tri-Weekly) via Delhi
27. Amravati-Pune Express (Bi-weekly) via Akola, Purna and Latur
28. Kacheguda-Madurai Express (Weekly) via Dharmavaram, Pakala, Jolarpettai
29. Bikaner-Puri Express (Weekly) via Jaipur, Kota, Katni Murwara, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur
30. Secunderabad-Darbhanga Express (Bi-weekly) via Ballarshah, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Ranchi, Jhajha
31. Bilaspur-Patna Express (Weekly) via Asansol, Jhajha
32. Howrah-Raxual Express (Bi-weekly) via Asansol, Jhajha, Barauni
33. Bhubaneswar-Bhawanipatna Link Express (Daily) via Vizianagaram
34. Puri-Yesvantpur Garib Rath Express (Weekly) via Visakhapatnam, Guntur
35. Sai Nagar Shirdi-Pandharpur Express (Tri-weekly) via Kurduwadi
36. Bhubaneswar-Tirupati Express (Weekly) via Visakhapatnam, Gudur
37. Visakhapatnam-Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express (Weekly) via Titlagarh, Raipur
38. Howrah-Lalkuan Express (Weekly) via Mughalsarai, Varanasi, Lucknow
39. Kolkata-Jaynagar Express (Weekly) via Asansol, Jhajha, Barauni
40. Dibrugarh-Kolkata Express (Weekly)
41. Firozpur-Sriganganagar Express (Daily) via Fazilka, Abohar
42. Jaipur-Secunderabad Express (Weekly) via Nagda, Bhopal, Narkher, Amravati, Akola
43. Okha-Jaipur Express (Weekly) via Palanpur, Ajmer
44. Adilabad-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express (Daily) via Mudkhed
45. Shalimar-Chennai Express (Weekly)
46. Mysore-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Weekly) via Bangalore, Dharmavaram, Bellary
47. Valsad-Jodhpur Express (Weekly) via Palanpur, Marwar
48. Porbander-Secunderabad Express (Weekly) via Viramgam, Vasai Road
49. Bandra (T) – Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express (Weekly) via Palanpur, Phulera
50. Hapa-Madgaon Express (Weekly) via Vasai Road, Roha
51. Bikaner-Bandra(T) Express (Weekly) via Jodhpur, Marwar, Ahmedabad
52. Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur Express (Weekly) via Palanpur, Jaipur, Mathura, Farrukhabad, Kanpur
53. Durg-Jagdalpur Express (Tri-Weekly) via Titlagarh
54. Mannargudi-Tirupati Express (Tri-Weekly)  via Thiruvarur, Villupuram, Katpadi
55. Gandhidham-Bandra (T) Express (Weekly) via Morbi
56. Kota-Hanumangarh Express (Daily) via Jaipur, Degana, Bikaner
57. Jhansi-Mumbai Express (Weekly) via Gwalior, Maksi, Nagda
58. Secunderabad-Nagpur Express (Triweekly) via Kazipet
59. Kanpur-Amritsar Express (Weekly) via Farrukhabad, Bareilly
60. Chappra-Lucknow Express (Tri-Weekly) via Masrakh, Thawe, Padrauna
61. Karimnagar-Tirupati Express (Weekly) via Pedapalli
62. Anandvihar-Haldia Express (Weekly)  via Mughalsarai, Gomoh, Purulia
63. Barrackpore-Azamgarh Express (Weekly) via Jhajha, Ballia, Mau
64. Indore-Rewa Express (Tri-weekly) via Bina
65. Running of independent train between Jabalpur-Hazrat Nizamuddin by delinking from 12405/12406 Bhusawal-Hazrat Nizamuddin and 12409/12410 Raigarh-Nizamuddin Gondwana Express
66. Darbhanga-Ajmer Express (Weekly) via Raxaul, Sitapur, Bareilly, Kasganj, Mathura
67. Solapur-Yesvantpur Express (Tri-weekly) via Gulbarga
68. Chennai-Puri Express (Weekly)
69. Hyderabad-Ajmer Express (Weekly) via Manmad, Itarsi, Ratlam
70. Asansol-Chennai Express (Weekly) via Purulia, Sambalpur, Vizianagaram
71. Shalimar-Bhuj Express (Weekly) via Bilaspur, Katni, Bhopal
72. Amritsar-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express (Weekly)
73. Santragachi-Ajmer Express (Weekly) via Kharagpur, Chandil, Barkakana, Katni, Kota
74. Malda Town-Surat Express (Weekly) via Rampur Hat, Asansol, Nagpur
75. Dwarka-Somnath Express (Daily)

Passenger Trains

1. Koderma-Nawadih Passenger (6 Days)
2. Sriganganagar-Suratgarh Passenger (Daily)
3. Yerraguntla-Nosam/Nanganapalli Passenger (Daily)
4. Villupuram-Katpadi Passenger (Daily)
5. Gunupur-Palasa (via Parlakhemundi) Passenger (Daily)
6. Ajmer-Pushkar Passenger (5 Days)
7. Kota-Jhalawar City Passenger (Daily)
8. Bareilly-Kasganj Passenger (Daily)
9. Anandnagar-Barahani Passenger (Daily)
10. Rangiya-Tezpur Passenger (Daily)
11. Mysore-Shravan belgola (Daily)
12. Jodhpur-Bilara Passenger (Daily)
13. Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai Passenger (Daily)
14. Rohtak-Panipat Passenger (Daily)
15. Miraj-Kurudwadi Passenger (Daily)
16. Phulera-Rewari Passenger (Daily)
17. Mysore-Chamarajanagar Passenger (Daily)
18. Gorakhpur-Siwan Passenger (Daily)

Running of independent Passenger trains between Rewa-Bilaspur & rewa-Chirmiri by delinking from 51751/51752 rewa-Bilaspur Passenger & 51753/51754 rewa-Chirmir Passenger

Mysore-Birur Passenger via Arsikere (Daily)

Jhansi-Tikamgarh Passenger via Lalitpur

MEMU

1. Dahod-Anand
2. Anand-Gandhinagar
3. Bina-Bhopal MEMU service in lieu of conventional services
4. Palakkad-Coimbatore-Erode
5. Ernakulam-Thrisur
6. Adra-Asansol
7. Adra-Bishnupur via Bankura
8. Sealdah-Lalgola

DEMU

1. Baripada-Bangriposi(Daily)
2. Masagram-Matnashibpur (Daily)
3. Mannargudi-Trichy-Manamadurai (Daily)
4. Hoshiarpur-Firozpur (Daily)
5. Siliguri-Changrabandha (Daily)
6. Pratapnagar-Chota Udepur (Daily)
7. New Jalpaiguri-Bamanhat DEMU service in lieu of conventional services.

Reacting on the Railway Budget, the Prime Minister of India said that, the Railway Minister has presented a forward looking Budget with emphasis on safety and modernisation of the Indian Railways. The Budget for 2012-13 has been formulated against the background of Railways` responsibilities in meeting the demands of the 12th Five Year Plan.