Highlights of Railway Budget 2005-06

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav presented the Railway Budget for 2005-06 in Parliament on Saturday.

Following are the highlights of the Budget:

No hike in rail passenger fares
Freight rates remain unchanged
Plan to modernise and expand rail services
Rail freight up 7.67%
Railways regain share of freight market
Freight growth higher than economic growth
8% growth in passenger fare income
Freight target: 600 mn tonne
Earning target: Rs 30,450 crore
To carry 43 mn ton more freight in FY06
Revenues steady in FY06
Private participation to be encouraged
Double 538 Kms of rail lines in FY06
FY06 gauge conversion target 935 Kms
46 new trains announced.
27 trains get extension
10 trains of higher frequency
Parcel rates kept unchanged
Freight for kerosene to be cut by 3.7%, LPG to be cut by 2.7%.
Plan to work on 150 kmph train between New Delhi & Howrah, Chennai
Passenger traffic expected to rise 4%
Good tariff to be made simple, rational and transparent
Private participation to be encouraged
Ticket- booking on Internet: Timings to be increased to 4.00 am to 11.30 pm from 8.00 am to 10. pm currently.
Railways to commercially develop rail land near major stations.
Surplus of Rs 6963 crore
IRFC to borrow Rs 3,400 cr in FY06
Private participation to be encouraged
FY06 gauge conversion target 935 Kms
Double 538 Kms of rail lines in FY06
Spot booking of vacant berths to be allowed
Rs 3645 cr of Safety Fund to be spent this year
Rs 6504 cr from Railway Safety Fund spent last year
New trains: Daily Chennai-Egmore-Secunderabad Express
Lalu proposes double-decker containers
Will allow private container companies to operate
Rural children: 75% discount on second class fare
Gross traffic receipts to rise from Rs 44902 cr to Rs 46785 cr
538 km of rail lines to be doubled in FY06
Farmers, milkmen to be given 50% discount on second class rail fare
Gross traffic receipts for FY06 seen at Rs 50,970 cr
Railways double collection of arrears in FY05

The Railway Budget 2005-06: Complete Coverage