Following are the highlights of the rail budget for the current fiscal presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha Friday:
- Rs.25 pass for unorganised sector employees of income below Rs.1,500 up to 100 km
- New "Yuva" fully air-conditioned train for youth
- Yuva fares Rs.299 up to a distance of 1,500 km and Rs.399 up to 2,500 km
- Student concession to be extended to madarssa students
- Student concession of 60 percent on Kolkata Metro
- Introduction of trains for women during peak seasons
- 12 non-stop trains
- New train information system to be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi
- 50 mobile rail ticket vans to be introduced
- ATMs on 200 mid- and small-sized stations
- Integrated security scheme for 140 vulnerable stations
- Setting up of a 1,000 MW power plant
- Special recruitment drive for the physically challenged, minorities
- Committee under Sam Pitroda to commercialise railways' optic fibre network
- Private operation of freight terminals to be encouraged
- One doctor to be posted on each long distance train
- New factory in West Bengal for making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually
- "Janta khana" (peoples' food) to be provided at railway stations
- Railways will not be guided by economic viability, but by social commitment
- Seven nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouses
- Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private partnership model
- Cold storages and cargo facilities to eliminate wastage of perishables
- 50 world class stations to be developed on public-private partnership model
- 309 out of 375 stations will be developed with modern facilities
- 50 stations at tourist, religious places to have integrated facilities
- Infotainment facilities on Rajdhani Express for long distance passengers
- Unreserved ticketing systems to be expanded from 5,000 to 8,000 terminals
- Passengers can buy unreserved tickets at 5,000 post offices
- Air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel
- SMS updates for wait-listed passengers
- 200 automatic vending machines at key stations for selling tickets
- Discount for press correspondents increased from 30 to 50 percent
- Discount of 60 percent on fare if press correspondents travel with spouse