Highlights of The Railway Budget 2012-13

The Railway budget for the year 2012-13 was presented by Railway Minister of India, Mr. Dinesh Trivedi on 14^th March 2012.

Here are few points that sums up the major takeaways for the Rail budget:

1. Fares will now be rounded off to the nearest five rupees.
2. The cost of platform tickets will cost Rs 5 instead of Rs 3.
3. There will be consideration given to setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory Autority.
4. There will be increase in fare for the railway tickets for the passengers. There would be an increase of 2 paise per km for suburban and ordinary second class tickets. An increase of 3 paise per km for express or mail second class tickets. An increase of 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car, Ac 3 tier and First Class. There would be an increase of 15 paise per km for AC 2 tier and an increase of 30 paise per km for AC first class tickets.
5. There will be contemplation of Fuel Adjustment Component (FAC) in fares.
6. There will be increase from 100 kms to 150 kms for travel distance under “Izzat Scheme”
7. There would be 50% concession given to passengers suffering from disease such as “Sick Cell Anaemia” and “Aplastic Anaemia”.
8. Arjuna Awardees may now enjoy the facility of travel by Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
9. There will be introduction of 75 new Express trains, 21 new passenger services, 8 MEMU and 9 DEMU services.
10. There would be increase in frequency for 23 trains.
11. The route for 39 existing trains would be extended.
12. There will be addition of 75 services to run in Mumbai suburban, 18 new services to run in Chennai area and addition of 44 new suburban services in Kolkata area.
13. There would be introduction of 50 new services in Kolkata Metro in the year 2012-13.
14. Inorder to redevelop existing stations, There would be a set up of Indian Railway Station Development Corporation.
15. There would be set up of Logistics Corporation for the development and management of existing railway goods sheds as well as multi modal logistics parks.
16. There would be new board member PPP/Marketing which would be inducted.
17. The rail connectivity projects R3i and R2R-i would be made more attractive to PPP partners.
18. There is a plan to set up a National High Speed Rail Authority.
19. There are four proposed projects which would be shared on a cost-sharing basis with the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal
20. There is a proposal to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh which would be taken up during 2012-2013.
21. There is a plan to set up 200 remote railway stations as “green energy stations” which would be completely powered by solar energy.
22. There is a proposal for 2500 coaches to be equipped with bio toilets.
23. There would be set-up of AC Executive lounges at major important railway stations.
24. Giving professional reputed agencies for pantry cars and base kitchens.
25. 19000 Km rail tracks to be modernised
26. 725 km New Lines to be introduced.