Indian Railway Budget 2009-2010
(July 03 2009)
RAILWAY BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Other important announcements
• Setting up of an expert committee headed by Shri Sam Pitroda to suggest innovations
to utilize optic fibre cable network of Railways and take information technology to door
steps in remote areas.
• Project Monitoring Committee for developing mechanism to avoid slippage in project
delivery. Special monitoring for National Projects.
• Railways to come out with white paper on organizational, operational and financial
status based on last five years performance and develop Vision-2020 with long and short
term strategy and plan of action.
• Modernization of select railway printing presses. Offer for takeover of heritage
institution Basumati Sahitya Mandir, for revival.
• Takeover of Units of Burn Standard and also Braithwaite under consideration.
• Revision in Tatkal Scheme to make it more user friendly. Advance booking period
reduced. Minimum charge reduced to Rs. 100.
• No increase in passenger fares and freight tariffs.
Landmark initiatives
• Dedicated Freight corridors declared ‘Diamond Rail Corridors’.
• Foundation being laid for development of Eastern Industrial Corridor alongside the
Eastern Freight Corridor.
Railways’ land banks to be productively utilized to catalyze development in this
corridor.
Investment in rolling stock production and assembly facilities proposed for
development of rail based industrial cluster drawing upon advantage of proximity
to mines, labour force and metal works market.
• Setting up of a new factory at Kanchrapara-Halisahar Railway Complex with annual
capacity of 500 EMU/MEMU and Metro coaches in Joint Venture/Public-Private
Partnership mode.
• Proposal to initiate action for setting up 1000 MW power plant with Ministry of Power,
at Adra, in under developed tribal area.
• State of the art training facilities proposed at Dankuni for young artisans and
supervisors, thereby contributing to national talent pool.
Safety and Security
• Timely track renewal, modernization of signals, use of digital ultrasonic flaw detectors
etc.
• Integrated Security Scheme to be introduced at 140 vulnerable and sensitive railway
stations.
• Women RPF squads for security of women passengers
Freight and Parcel Business
• Premium service for container movement with assured transit time being considered.
• Private ownership of special purpose rolling stock for commodities and private
operation of freight terminals will be encouraged.
• Mega logistic hubs being planned alongside Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight
Corridors.
• Kisan-Vision project – Running special trains from production clusters to consumer
centers for perishable products like fruits and vegetables to reduce wastage and also for
village handicraft, cottage industry & textile products to increase outreach and access to
new markets for rural produce. Temperature controlled cargo centres to be encouraged.
• Premium Parcel Services named Faster Parcel Services on pilot basis on three routes to
run with guaranteed transit time from dedicated terminals.
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Interim Indian Railway Budget 2009-2010
Indian Railway Budget 2008-2009
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