Rail Budget: No hike in passenger, freight fares

Presenting his Second Railway Budget Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said that core objective is to become an engine of employment generation and economic growth at national level. He said Railway will generate 9 crore man-days employment by 2017-18 and 14 crore man-days by 2018-19. Minister announced New freight corridors Delhi-Chennai, Kharagpur-Mumbai and Kharagpur-Vijayawada. He said that he is happy to announce that action has been initiated on 139 Budget announcements last year.

The minister announced setting up a Rail university at Vadodara. He announced to take up on priority the provision of passenger amenities and beautification on stations at pilgrimage centres including Ajmer, Dwarka, Gaya, Puri, Varanasi and Parasnath. In addition to this, Mr Prabhu said to spread awareness about our national animal, the tiger, complete packages would be provided by railways to wild life circuits.

There is an increase in seat quota this year; 50% up for senior citizens. Railways will increase the quota of



lower berths for women and senior citizens. Safety record has become better. 20% less accidents this year than last year but a lot needs to be done.

Railway will introduce Deen Dayal coaches for long distance trains for unreserved passengers. Fully unreserved superfast trains will be introduced on dense traffic routes. Railway open cancellation facility through 139 helpline number. Journalists will get facility of e-booking of tickets on concessional passes.

IRCTC will make available local cuisine of choice, hygienic food. The cleaning of toilets by requests through SMS. New policy of multi-purpose stalls at station to provide multiple services like milk and medicines.

Railway will include e-ticket facility for foreign debit and credit card holders. Railway is planning to introduce bar-coded tickets on pilot basis to tackle menace of ticketless travel.