Railway Budget 2016-2017

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented his second rail budget this year. He kept the fares unchanged.  In his budget speech, he said that for this budget he owes its inspiration to vision of PM Modi who said: "My vision is to make railways backbone of India’s progress & economic development."

He outlined the 3 pillars of strategy - raise new revenues, raise productivity and efficiency and revamp the processes. He also said that the Core objective is to become engine of economic growth, create employment and provide customer service.

So now let’s see what Mr. Prabhu had for the citizens of India. Here are the highlights of the Rail Budget 2016:

• Operating ratio kept at 92% FY17 as against 90% in current year.

• To generate revenues of order of Rs.1,84,820 cr next year which is a 10.1% higher than revised target of current year.

• The Capital plan of Rs 1.21 lakh crore.

• Aimed to generate 10-20% of revenues from non-tariff sources over next 5 years by monetizing assets.

• Railways will get Rs 40,000 crore budgetary support from the government.

• Railways incurred a loss of Rs 30,000 crore by subsidizing passenger fares.

• Rs 8.5 lakh crore to be spent over 5 years for modernization of railway infrastructure

• To have 2,800 kms of new tracks in next year, almost 30% higher than last year target.

• Two dedicated freight corridors by 2019.

• Railway electrification have increased by 50% & 2,000 km route to be electrified next fiscal year.

• 400 stations to be re-developed through PPP.

• 2 locomotive factories at the cost of Rs 40,000 crore to be set up.

• Overnight double-Decker train Uday Express to be introduced on busiest routes which will increased carrying capacity with 40% more.

• Three direct services, fully air-conditioned Humsafer, to travel at 130km per hour will be starting this year.

• Lower berth quota for senior citizens to be increased by 50%

• 33% of sub-quota for women in each of the reserved categories will be introduced.

• Railways announces measures for women security: All India 24X7 helpline, CCTV surveillance, reserved middle bay in coaches.

• To Generate Rs 9 crore mandays in FY17-18, Rs 14 crore mandays in FY18-19

• Completely paperless contract system in 2016-17

• He also stated that 124 MPs have committed to contribute from MPLADS for passenger amenities.

• WiFi in 100 stations this year and 400 other stations next year.

• To have CCTV surveillance at all stations, 300 major stations will be covered this year.

• Enhanced capacity of e-ticketing system - from 2000 tickets a minute to 7200 a minute (to support 120,000 concurrent users).

• 44 new projects valued at Rs 92,714 crore to be implemented this year

• 17 states agree to form JVs with Indian Railways for construction of rail-over-bridges

• To introduce 20,000 screen rail display network for passing info to passengers and huge advertising potential

• Railways will partner with the Govt. of TN for developing suburban network in Chennai through innovative financing methods.

• Ring Railway to be redeveloped in partnership with the Delhi government.

• Elevated rail corridors from Church gate to Virar and CST to Panvel on the cards.

• India's first rail auto hub to come up in Chennai.

• LIC has agreed to fund Rs 1.5 lakh crore over next 5 years at favorable terms

• A sum of Rs. 50 crores for providing innovation grants to start-ups has been kept aside.

• We'll install GPS-based digital display in coaches for showing upcoming stations.

• Now the Coolies will be called 'Sahayaks'.

• Children's menu, baby foods, baby boards to be made available for travelling mothers.

• We've introduced Sarthi Seva in Konkan Railways for help to senior citizens, will expand this service.

• With helpline number 139, the passenger will soon able to do cancellation of ticket.

• Journalists to get facility of e-booking of tickets on concessional passes.

• Planning to introduce bar-coded tickets on pilot basis to tackle menace of ticket less travel.

• Opened long awaited Broad Gauge Lumding-Silchar section in Assam, connecting Barak Valley with rest of country.

• Long distance superfast train Antyodaya Express for unreserved passengers.

• Introduction of Deen Dayal coaches for long distance trains for unreserved passengers.

• Introduction of Tejas, the future of train travel with operating speeds of 130 kph. 

• National academy of railways at Vadodara to be upgraded to a full-fledged Railway university.

• Railways will partner with Gujarat, Telangana & Tamil Nadu for developing suburban sections in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad & Chennai by innovative financing mechanism.

• Intend to take up on priority provision of passenger amenities and beautification of stations at pilgrimage centres including Ajmer, Amritsar, Bihar Sharif,  Chengannur, Dwarka, Gaya, Haridwar, Mathura, Tirupati, & Varanasi.

• He also said that World's first Bio-vacuum toilet developed by Indian Railways is being used in Bibrugarh Rajdhani express.

• By 2020, plans to eliminate all unmanned level crossings

• Foreign Rail Technological Cooperation scheme to be formulated for technological up gradation.

• Wireless enabled 'Rakshak' devices to intimate gangmen about approaching train.

• Introduction of separate toilets for "divyaang" people.

• To introduce Humsafar Express, full air-conditioned third AC service with operational services for meals.

• Proposal for Antyodaya Express and Deenadayalu coaches for unreserved travelers.

• Poised to commission 7km of broad gauge lines in 2017 against an average of 4.3 km.