By Pallab Ghosh

The 15th rail budget brought relief to general passenger with no proposed hike in passenger fares and freight rates. Many new schemes and packages were introduced including the non-stop trains between a host of key stations and air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city. However, like all budget this too attracted mixed reaction among the political parties and masses.

Union rail minister Mamta Bannerjee presented the 15th rail budget amidst speculation from all quarters. Many predicted this budget would be more on the lines of former union rail minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav but she proved all wrong as Mamta though began her speech on a usual note but came up with lot of new packages and schemes. She made it clear that her focus was on railway network development. An irked Lalu was provoked to address the media immediately after the speech and accused Mamta of suffering from complex situation with him. However, a non deterred Mamta in her ‘special’ style countered all the provocations by the former rail minister and read out many interesting packages that would make journey on rail more safe and comfortable.

Mamta announced that there will be proposed hike in the fairs and freight tariffs which meant that there would be no extra burden on the pockets of the passengers. However, her proposal to offer a concessions for unorganized sector by proposing monthly season ticket of Rs 25 for people with monthly income of up to Rs 1,500 for travel up to 100 kms was well taken and appreciated by and large. She also announced proposals for introduction of 57 new trains, improvement in passenger amenities and upgrading some 300 stations to global standards. 10 new Garib Raths trains to be introduced.

On the issue of beefing up the safety and security on board, she said there will be timely track renewal, modernization of signals and use of digital ultrasonic flaw detectors. Integrated security scheme will be introduced in 140 vulnerable and sensitive railway stations and women RPF squads will be deployed for security of women passengers.

The existing ‘Tatkal’ scheme making it more passenger-friendly by reducing the advance booking period from five days to two days and minimum charge from Rs 150 to Rs 100. “The rates of Tatkal services were was on a higher side. The five days booking in advance was depriving those who genuinely needed this service and I have kept this in mind while doing the changes”, Mamta said.

Apprising of the new ‘Mushkil Asan’ scheme, the mobile ticketing vans would issue reserved and unreserved tickets in both urban and rural areas. “Poor people unable to go to stations to purchase tickets can now purchase tickets in market places, mohallas and other busy places”, said Mamta. “We shall start this in the current financial year itself”, she added. Under a MoU between Railways and Department of Posts, computerized tickets can be purchased from nearly 5,000 post offices in cities and towns. According to Bannerjee 200 new towns and cities will be covered under the Indian Railways Passengers Reservation System.
Unveiling a brand new concept ‘Izzat’ (dignity), the scheme targeting workers employed in the unorganized sector with a monthly season ticket at a uniform rate of Rs 25 would be available free of all surcharges for travel up to 100 kms for members of the unorganized sector with monthly income not exceeding Rs 1,500. “This would enable the passengers to travel with dignity on Indian Railways”, Bannerjee said.
In freight and parcel business, the minister said premium service for container movement with assured transit time was being considered. Private ownership of special purpose rolling stock for commodities and private operation of freight terminals will be encouraged. Temperature-controlled cargo centers will be encouraged and premium parcel services named ‘Faster Parcel Services’ on pilot basis on Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes will be introduced with guaranteed time transit.

However, the real surprise was the proposal of introducing 12 ‘Duronto’ trains, a non-stop service connecting metros and major state capitals, on Friday. These trains would have AC and non-AC sleepers.

1. New Delhi-Jammu Tawi (tri-weekly).
2. Howrah-Mumbai AC (bi-weekly).
3. Mumbai-Ahmedabad AC (tri-weekly).
4. Chennai-Delhi (bi-weekly).
5. New Delhi-Lucknow (tri-weekly).
6. Delhi-Pune AC (bi-weekly).
7. Howrah-Delhi (bi-weekly).
8. New Delhi-Allahabad (tri-weekly.
9. Sealdah-New Delhi (bi-weekly).
10.Kolkata-Amritsar (bi-weekly).

Mamta introduced low-cost, air-conditioned ‘Yuva Trains’ with only sitting accommodation will also benefit low-income groups. Apprising about this she said “weekly service will be introduced as a pilot project within three months in Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata sectors, it will be extended to other areas if this scheme turns successful”, said Bannerjee. The fare will be Rs 229 for distances up to 1,500 km and Rs 399 for distances upto 2,500 km.

Annual Plan 2008-09
• The Annual Plan of Rs.37,500 crore is the largest ever Annual Plan so far.
• Thrust areas include enhancement of high density network routes, improvement and expansion of traffic facility and network, construction of flyovers, bypasses and upgradation of goods-sheds.
• New Lines - Rs.1,730 crore, Gauge conversion - Rs.2,489 crore, Electrification - Rs.626 crore, Metropolitan Transport Projects - Rs.650 crore.
• Track renewal - Rs.3,600 crore, Bridges - Rs. 600 crore, Signal & Telecommunication works -Rs.1,520 crore, Road over/under bridges - Rs. 700 crore and manning of unmanned level crossings - Rs.600 crore.
• Passenger amenities - Rs. 852 crore, the highest so far.
• Targets : New Lines - 350 kms, Gauge conversion - 2,150 kms, Doubling - 1000 kms. The Plan also includes acquisition of 18000 wagons in the current year as against 11,000 in 2008-09. An additional budgetary support of Rs 1,949 crore has been sought for 11 national projects.
• An expert committee under Sam Pitroda, who headed the National Knowledge Commission, is being set up to suggest innovations to utilize optic cable network of railways for taking information technology to doorsteps in remote areas.
• Outlay on new lines has been pegged at Rs 2,921 crore, while for gauge conversion is Rs 1,750 crore. Passenger amenities will get Rs 1,102 crore. A sum of Rs 335 crore has been allocated for staff quarters and Rs 424 crore for amenities.

Major highlights of Rail Budget 2009-10

Rs 1,102 crore allocated towards improving passenger amenities.

Kolkata metro to be extended.

One doctor to be posted on each long distance train.

Student concession to be extended to madarssa students.

Freight target for 2009-10 set at 882 million tonnes.

Student concession of 60 percent on Kolkata Metro.

Introduction of trains for women during peak seasons.

New train information system to be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi.

Rs 50 billion crore in budgetary support in 2009-10.

Target set in interim budget unrealistic.

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.

New factory in West Bengal making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually.

“Janta khana” (peoples’ food) to be provided at railway stations.

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.

Discount for press correspondents from 30 to 50.%

Discount of 60% on fare if press correspondents travel with spouse.

Seven nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouse.s

Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private
partnership model.

Air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel.

SMS updates for wait-listed passengers.

Introducing a special train from Anandpur Sahib and Patna Sahib to Gurudwara Sachkhand Sahib on the occasion of tercentenary of Shri Guru Granth Sahib of Gurta Gaddi.

The budget while on one hand brought smiles for many made the rest unhappy on the other as they felt it was more of a pro-west Bengal budget and accused Mamta of acquiring a step motherly attitude towards other states and have deprived the rest of the states. “I was impartial while formulating the packages and schemes and have made it a conscious effort to distribute the amenities equally among all states”, said Mamta. However, she agreed accepted having a special attention towards West Bengal was nothing wrong and she felt it was her duty to give back to the people of the state who had so much expectation from her.