Following are the highlights of the interim Rail Budget presented by Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday:
- No increase in passenger and freight fares.
- Train reservations through mobile telephones to be introduced.
- A pilot project of e-ticketing to be started on select Shatabdi Express trains.
- Regular incentive scheme announced for frequent Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi travellers.
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Information about delayed departure of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains to be made available through SMS -- pilot project announced.
- Unreserved ticketing system to be extended.
- Tatkal Services to be extended.
- Anti-Collision Device provisioning in 1,736 kms launched on January 20, 2004. ACD on remaining broad gauge sections to be provided in the next five years.
- Expected growth in freight traffic -- 20 million tonnes and around three per cent in number of passengers.
- Gross Traffic Receipts estimated at Rs 44,482 crore, i.e., Rs 1,877 crore over Revised Estimates 2003-04.
- Ordinary Working Expenses budgeted at Rs 32,960 crore.
- Budget current dividend of Rs 3,305 crore, Rs 300 crore of deferred dividend to be cleared and budget operating ratio would be 93 per cent.
- Freight loading target for the year (2003-04) enhanced to 550 million tonnes, and number of passengers likely to grow by around three per cent over previous year.
- Ordinary Working Expenses likely to be less by Rs 1,490 crore.
- Appropriation to Pension Fund reduced by Rs 295 crore, appropriation to DRF increased by Rs 262 crore.
- Besides current dividend of Rs 2,968 crore, Rs 300 crore of deferred dividend to be cleared.
- Operating ratio likely to improve to 92.6 per cent from the budgeted 94.1 per cent.
- Plan outlay increased by Rs 1,000 crore and fixed at Rs 13,918 crore in Revised Estimates.
- New series of fast trains named as 'Sampark Kranti Express' to be introduced to connect states to the national capital. Seventeen other Sampark Kranti Express trains will cover other states.
- Plan outlay fixed at Rs 13,425 crore consisting of Budgetary support of Rs 4,544 crore, Special Rail Safety Fund Rs 2,795 crore, Rs 401 crore from Central Road Fund, Internal resources of Rs 2,635 crore and Market borrowing of Rs 3,050 crore. Also includes an outlay of Rs 717 crore for Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
- Execution and completion of projects sanctioned on socio-economic considerations, connecting remote and backward areas to be speeded in the next five years through Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana with additional outlay of Rs 20,000 crore.
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) gearing up to take over the additional responsibility of trains escorting and security in passenger areas with effect from July 1, 2004.
- Technology Mission on Railway safety - 14 projects approved as a joint effort between Ministry of Railways, Ministry of HRD and Industries.
- Special Rail Safety Fund outlay enhanced from Rs 2,311 crore to Rs 2,351 crore.
