Railway Budget 2009-10

*The Railways are set to establish the historic landmark of earning a cash surplus before dividend of more than Rs 90,000 cr, in five years.
*This is the same Railways which faced a paucity offunds for replacement of over-aged assets in 200 I and which had to defer payment of Rs 2,800 cr as dividend to General Revenues.
*The Indian Railway Finance Corporation, in Nov 2008, has successfully raised a I O-cr-dollar loan, equivalent to Rs 500 cr, at a rate of only 4 per cent, from the international market.
*In the last five years the Railways have stepped up the annual growth rate offreight loading from an average of 3 per cent during the decade of 90s to an average of8 per cent.
*The declining trend of Railways, share in transportation of steel and cement, witnessed during the past several years has also been arrested as the Railways increased their share in transportation of these commodities, over the last five years.
*In the last five years there has also been a significant improvement m Railway safety and a steep reduction in the number of railway accidents.
*The number of consequential accidents came down to 194 in 2007-08, as against 325 in 2003-04.
*The number of consequential train accidents during Apr to Nov in the current year decreased to I 17 as compared to 138 during the corresponding period ofthe previous year.
*The Railways are increasingly becoming more outward looking and customer-centric. Today passengers are reserving tickets through the internet from their homes.
-- Apart from this, the facility to reserve tickets is available at ATMs, petrol pumps and post offices.
*Earlier passengers used to face considerable difficulty in getting information about train services. However, today this information can be obtained from any corner of the country.
--This has been made possible through the' 139 Train Enquiry Service', which is available 24 hours a day in I I different 3 languages.
--Four caIl centres have been set up in four comers of the country. These facilitate availability of instantaneous information on train arrival-departure, reservation status, etc. Presently more than 5 lakh passengers are daily availing this facility.
*Introduction of the fully air-conditioned Garib Raths and the free passenger upgrade facility from lower classes to vacant air-conditioned upper classes has enabled lakhs of people to enjoy the comfort of travelling in air­conditioned class for the first time in their lives.
*A number of improvements like better cleanliness in trains and stations, provision of cushioned seats in place of wooden seats in coaches of ordinary class, and increase in the height of the platform at smaller stations have been initiated.
*In addition platform shelters are being constructed at smaller stations for protection against cold, heat and ram.
*Heavy investments will have to be made for enhancing capacity of rolling stock, technical upgradation and advancement in technology to achieve the ambitious targets set for passenger and freight business segments, in the 11th Five Year Plan.
--Therefore Railways have deployed their investible surplus of nearly Rs 70,000 cr earned between 2004- 05 to 2008-09 to increase its productivity. Railways will invest Rs 2,30,000 cr under the II th Five Year Plan, which is almost three times the amount allocated in the 10th Five Year Plan.
--The objective is to increase the transport capacity of the Railways and to reduce the unit cost of operations.
*Railways investment outlays have been stepped up from Rs 13,394 cr in 2003-04 to Rs 36,773 cr in 2008-09. Railways would be completing the work of 4900 km of gauge conversion, 1800 km of doubling and laying 1100 km of new lines, over five years.
*Agartala, the capital of the North-Eastern State of Tripura, has been connected by railway line, which marks the first rail connection to another state capital of a North-eastern state since Independence.
*The dream of bringing rail services to the Kashmir Valley has also been realized with the start of train services between Anantnag and Rajwansher. The service up to Baramula will be extended in the next few days and up to Qazigund in the next four months.
*Gauge conversion works ofRewari-Ringus-Phulera and Darbhanga-Sitamarhi have also been completed.
*The new lines Sakri-Biraul, Moranhat-Dibrugarh, Hathua-Bathua Bazar and Puntamba-Shirdi have also been completed.
*Significant progress has been made in the field of railway electrification. As against 504 route km completed in 2003- 04 the target for 2008-09 is set at 1000 route km.
*Railways have conducted successful trials of running electric locomotives with overhead equipment at a height of about 7.5 metres. This will enable running of double stack containers on the electrified Western Dedicated Freight corridor.
*Similarly, the production of wagons during this period is targeted to increase from 6,600 per annum to nearly 15,000 (vehicle units) and diesel and electric locomotives from 202 to about 480.
*More importantly, through modernization ofthe network and technological upgradation of rolling stock, the capacity ofthe newly constructed track and rolling stock has increased significantly.
*Production of covered and open wagons of new design . has since commenced. This will result in a 78 per cent increase in capacity of goods rakes comprising of new design covered wagons as compared with the old stock. These trains can now carry a load of 4100 tonnes compared with the earlier load of2300 tonnes.
*The capacity of the freight trains comprising of open wagons with new design will also be 22 per cent more than before. Similarly, the capacity of passenger trains has also been increased.

Operating results for the previous fiscal
*Registering a growth of9 per cent, Railways loaded 794 million tonnes in 2007-08, which was 66 million tonnes more than the loading in 2006-07.
*Freight and passenger earnings grew at 14 and 15 per cent respectively. Total traffic earnings also increased by 15 per cent to reach Rs 71,645 cr.
*The cash surplus before dividend increased from the 2006-07 level ofRs 20,338 cr to Rs 25,006 cr. The plan expenditure increased to Rs 28,980 cr compared with Rs 25,002 cr in 2006-07.

Revised Estimates (RE) 2008-09
*The Railways registered an excellent performance in freight loading and earnings till the end of Sep 2008.
*During this period, freight loading and earnings registered a growth of 9 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. Similarly, the passenger earnings increased by 14 per cent. However, in Oct and Nov, the growth in freight loading was adversely impacted by the recession in the international markets.
*There was a steep reduction in iron ore for export and container traffic. The growth rate of steel traffic also reflected a decrease.
*This resulted in a decrease in freight loading and freight earnings in the months of Oct and Nov.
*The situation in Dee and Jan indicates some improvement and the budget targets for passenger and goods earnings set for this fiscal will be surpassed.
*Freight earnings increased to Rs 38,093 cr, by the end of Dee 2008, registering a growth of 14 per cent. Based on the present trend, the target for goods earnings for 2008- 09 have been increased by Rs 1,593 cr.
*Similarly, the earnings from passenger traffic increased by nearly 12 per cent up to Dee which is about three per cent more than the budgeted target.
*Accordingly, the revised estimates for freight earnings have been kept at Rs 54,293 cr, passenger earnings at Rs 22,330 cr, sundry earnings at Rs 3,250 cr, other coaching earnings at Rs 2,420 cr and Gross Traffic Receipts at Rs 82,393 cr.
*The operating ratio of the Railways is projected at 88 per cent. The revised Annual Plan outlay for 2008-09 is proposed at Rs 36,773 cr.

Budget Estimates (BE) for 2009-10
*The Budget Estimates for goods earnings, passenger earnings, sundry other earnings and other coaching earnings have been kept at Rs 59,059 cr, 25,000 cr, Rs 6,000 cr and Rs 3,000 cr respectively in 2009-10.
*The Gross Traffic Receipts have been projected at Rs 93,159 cr, exceeding the Revised Estimates for the current year by Rs 10,766 cr.
*Ordinary Working Expenses have been kept at Rs 62,900 cr in 2009-1 0, which are Rs 7,900 cr more than the Revised Estimates for 2008-09. This is mainly due to payment of 60 per cent of the arrears to the staff in view of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
*The total Working Expenses are estimated at Rs 83,600 cr. The cash surplus before dividend is expected to be Rs 18,847 cr and the operating ratio 89.9 per cent.
*Dividend payable to the General Revenues for 2009-1 0, is estimated at Rs 5,304 cr, based on the current applicable rate.

Annual Plan 2009-10
*Annual Plan for 2009- J 0 envisages investment of Rs 37,905 cr. The budgetary support from the General Revenue has been proposed at Rs 9,600 cr excluding Rs 1,200 cr to be received from Central Road Fund.
*The Internal and Extra Budgetary Resource component would, accordingly, comprise 72 per cent of the Annual Plan.
*The work of construction of the double line Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor has commenced from near Dehri-on-Son on 10th Feb 2009. Work on construction of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor will also start in Feb.
*In the 2007 -08 Budget, it had been announced that based on requirement, pre-feasibility studies would be undertaken for running bullet trains in various regions of the country. Action is on for examining feasibility of running bullet trains between Delhi-Amritsar, Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune, Hyderabad- Vij aywada­Chennai, Chennai-Bangalore-Ernakulam and Howrah­Haldia. Action will soon be started for conducting a pre feasibility study to run bullet trains between Delhi-Patna,
*The work of construction of Rail Wheel Factory at Chhapra is going on in right earnest. Efforts are being made to start work on Diesel and Electric Locomotive Factories at Marhoura and Madhepura.
*The wagon factories of Bharat Wagon Limited located at Mokama and Muzaffarpur have been transferred to Ministry of Railways. In view of the special request of local public representatives, the matter oftransfer ofthe wagon units of Bum Standard located at Burnpur and Howrah, to Ministry of Railways, in the same manner as Mokama and Muzaffarpur, would be discussed, for further action with the concerned Ministries.
*The surveys for construction of new line from Jhargram to Purulia and the new line for extension of Kolkata Metro, from Dum Dum to Dakshineshwar have been completed.
*The West Bengal government has also given its consent to contribute 50 per cent ofthe cost for extension of the Kolkata Metro. Further action is being taken for obtaining necessary approvals for these projects.
*With a view to facilitating smooth flow of rail traffic, construction of ROBIRUBs on fifty-fifty cost sharing basis, at Palej, Panoli, Kosamba and Kim in the districts of Sur at and Bharuch in Gujarat, Roshanara Garden and Sultanpuri in Delhi Area, Shastrinagar and Model Town ofLudhiana in Punjab and Vasarpadi in Tamil Nadu will be considered on priority.
*The administrative decision to set up two new railway divisions at Bhagalpur and Thawe.

SURVEYS
Based on demands the following surveys are proposed to be taken up:
New Lines
1.Ringus ~ Didwana via Khatu Shyamj i
2.Islampur ~ Manpur via Khijar Sarai/Sarbhada
3.Bakulha ~ Belthara Road
4.Bihariganj ~ Forbesganj via Muraliganj, Kumarkhand, Chhatapur
5.Piduguralla--Narasaraopet
6.Madhepura -- Virpur via Singheshwar, Pipra, Triveniganj
7.Botad -- Jasdan via Gondal
8.Bihariganj -- Naugachhia via Udakishunganj, Puraini, Chausa
9.Samdari -- Phalodi
10.Burhwal -- Bahraich
11.Areraj -- Narkatiaganj via Lauria
12.Lalganj -- Faizabad via Akbarganj, Maharajganj and Rae Bareilly
13.Parasnath -- Madhuban
14.Dheng -- Sonbarsa via Majorganj, Kanhauli

Gauge Conversion
1.Khijadia--Amreli--Junagarh
2.Champaner--Pani Mines
3.Chhuchhapura-- Tankhala with extention to Rajpipla
Doubling
1.Hospet-- Swamihalli
2.Tornagallu-- Ranj itpura
3.Bandikui-- Alwar
4.Ajmer--Palanpur
5.Tinpahar -- Bhagalpur
6.Anand Vihar --Tilak Bridge 3rd & 4th line
7.Dangoaposi -- Pandrasali 3rd line
8.Katwa- Farakka
PASSENGER SERVICES
New Trains
*In light of the demands expressed by passengers, the following services have been proposed:
1.Bilaspur ~ Tirunelvelli via Thiruvanathapuram Express (Weekly)
2.Ranchi ~ Jaynagar Express (Tri-weekly)
3.Secunderabad ~ Manuguru Superfast (Daily)
4.Mumbai .-. Karwar Superfast (Tri-weekly)
5.Bhopal ~ Lucknow Junction Garib Rath Express (Weekly)
6.Durg -- Jaipur Express (Weekly)
7.Chhatrapati Sahu terminal (Kolhapur) - Dhanbad Link Service via Parasnath (Weekly)
8.Sengottai -- Erode Passenger (Daily)
9.Dibrugarh Town .. 0 Chandigarh Express (Weekly)
10.Ajmer- Bhagalpurvia Delhi Garib Rath Express (Bi­weekly)
11.Nizamuddin ~ Bangalore via Kacheguda Rajdhani Express (Tri-weekly)
12.Barauni ~ Delhi Jan Sadharan Superfast (Bi-weekly)
13.Mumbai ~ Varanasi Superfast (Daily)
14.Mysore ~ Yesvantpur Express (Daily)
15.Jamalpur ~ Gaya Passenger
16.Koraput- Rourkela Express via Rayagada (Daily)
17.Agra=Ajmer Superfast (Daily)
18.Sitamarhi - Patna Link Service (Daily)
19.Tiruchchirapalli - Madurai Express (Daily)
20.Mumbai ~ Bikaner Superfast (Bi-weekly)
21.Jaynagar=-Ajrner Link Service (Bi-weekly)
22.Agra ~ Lucknow Junction Shatabdi Express (Daily)
23.Gandhidham ~ Kolkata Superfast (Weekly)
24.New Delhi -- Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Bhagalpur (Weekly)
25.Mumbai Tiruneivelli Superfast via Thiruvanathpuram (Bi-weekly)
26.Jammu Tawi - Darbhanga Garib Rath Express (Weekly)
27.Saharsa - Delhi Express via Patna (Weekly)
28.GwaIior - Bhopal Intercity Express via Guna (5 days a week)
29.Coimbatore - Tuticorin Link Service (Daily)
30.Howrah - Haridwar Superfast (5 days a week)
31.Machhalipatnam - Mumbai Superfast (Bi-weekly)
32.Varanasi - Jammu Tawi Superfast (Daily)
33.Gorakhpur- Mumbai Superfast (Daily)
34.Jhajha - Patna MEMU
35.New Delhi - Palwal MEMU
36.New Delhi - Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Muzaffarpur (Weekly)
37.Vera val- Mumbai Link service (Daily)
38.Ranchi - Patna J an Shatabdi (Daily)
39.Jhansi - Chhindwara Superfast (Bi-weekly)
40.Mumbai - Jodhpur Express (Weekly)
41.Hajipur - Bagaha Link Service
42.Howrah - Delhi Link Service via Azimganj ­Bhagalpur (Weekly)
43.Sitamarhi - Delhi Garib Rath Express via Patna (Weekly)

Extension of Trains
*The extension in services of the following trains has been proposed:
1.5761/5762 Ranehi - Alipurduar Express to Guwahati
2.9269/9270 Porbandar- Bapudham Motihari Express to Muzaffapur
3.1471/1472 Jabalpur- Bhopal Express to Laxmibai Nagar, Indore
4.6865/6866 Emakulam - Tiruehchirapalli Express to Nagore
5.3155/3156 Kolkata - Darbhanga Mithilanehal Express to Sitamarhi
6.2175/2176 Howrah - Gwalior Chambal Express to Mathura
7.2177/2178 Howrah - Agra Cantt Chambal Express to Mathura
8.6507/6508 Jodhpur - Bangalore Express to Coimbatore ,
9.2187/2188 Jabalpur-Mumbai Garib Rath Express to Allahabad
102927/2928 Mumbai - Vadodara Express to Chhotaudepur
11.541/542 Patna - Darbhanga Kamlaganga Fast Passenger to Biraul
12.3113/3114 Kolkata >- Murshidabad Hazar Duari Express to Lalgola
13.2909/2910 Mumbai - Jaipur Garib Rath Express to Delhi
14.2143/2144 Nagpur - Gaya Dikshabhoomi Parasnath Express to Dhanbad via Parasnath

Increase in Frequency
*It has been proposed to increase the frequency of the following train services:
1.2423/2424 New Delhi --GuwahatilDibrugarh Rajdhani Express from 5 days to 6 days
2.2443/2444 Bhubarreshwar - New Delhi Rajdhani Express from 2 days to 4 days
3.2395/2396 Ajmer - Rajendra Nagar Ziyarat Express from Weekly to Biweekly
4.2211/2212 Nizamuddin - Bapudham Motihari Garib Rath from Weekly to Biweekly
5.2183/2184 Bhopal-- Lucknow J unction Express from Bi-weekly to Triweekly
6.7091 / 7092 Secunderabad - Patna Express from Bi­weekly to Daily
7.2739/2740 Secunderabad - Vishakhapatnam Garib Rath Express from 4 days to Daily
8.2111/2112 Amravati - Mumbai Amravati Express from Tri-weekly to Daily
9.2149/2150 Pune -- Patna Express from 4 days a week to Daily
10.2957/2958 Ahmedabad - New Delhi Rajdhani Express from 6 days to Daily
11.2947/2948 Ahmedabad - Patna Azimabad Express from Bi-weekly to Triweekly
12.2887/2888 Puri - Howrah Express from weekly to Bi­weekly
13. 2487/2488 Jogbani - Delhi Seemanchal Express from 5 days to 6 days a week
14.2823/2824 Nizarnrnudin-Durg Chattisgarh Sampark Kranti from 2 days to 3 days a week
*The local MEMU trains traveling between Gaya Patna, Jhajha-Patna, Buxar-Patna, Mughalsarai - Patna, Ara­Patna and Mokama-Danapur are heavily crowded.
*Presently most of the MEMU rakes are of 12 coaches. Only 6 services out of 18 have 16 coaches. It has, therefore, been decided to provide 16 coaches for all these 18 services.
*MEMU services on these routes by the end of Mar-Apr 2009. This will provide comfort to passengers travelling by local trains.
*Respecting the wishes of crores of people, for the fourth consecutive time, it has been decided to reduce the passenger fares, for non sub-urban mail/express and ordinary passenger trains by one more rupee for fares costing up to rupees fifty per passenger.
*With this there has been a historic reduction in the passenger fares for non sub-urban second classes continuously over the last four years, by rupees four per passenger.
*Since the fare for rail travel for 10 km and below has already been reduced from four rupees to one rupee, therefore, this reduction will not be applicable for second­class raiIjoumey up to lO km.
*The second-class and sleeper-class fates of all mail! express and ordinary passenger trains have been reduced by 2 per cent for the ticket costing more than Rupees fifty per passenger.
*It has been decided to reduce the fares of AC first class, AC2 tier,AC 3 tierandAC ChairCarby2 per cent.