Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda today presented the BJP Government’s Railway Budget for 2014 with a strong emphasize on IT spending.
This is the first Raliway Budget under the new Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
IT initiatives get a big boost in the Budget. Revamping Railway Reservation System into Next Generation e-Ticketing will be taken up with provision of platform tickets and unreserved tickets also over internet.
The Railway has proposed real-time tracking of trains and rolling stocks, mobile based Wakeup Call System for passengers, mobile based destination arrival alert and Wi-fi Services in A-1 and A category stations and in select trains.
Indian Railways has also planned paperless offices in 5 years.
The following are the highlights of the Railway budget 2014.
The main focus of the Railway Budget is its focus on IT to transform the industry and speed up growth.
Summer internships for under-graduates of engineering & management studies.
Innovations Incubation Center to bet set up to leverage talents and harness staff potential in creating new ideas.
Setting up of Railway University for technical and non-technical subjects. Tie-up with technical institutions.
Hospital Management Information System to integrate all railway health units and hospital.
E-Procurement compulsory for procurements worth Rs.25 Lakhs & more, status of all ongoing projects online.
GIS Mapping and Digitization of Railway Land. Extension of logistics support to various e-Commerce Companies
Future E-Ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute & to allow 120,000 simultaneous users
Wi-Fi in A1 and A category stations and in select trains. Internet-based Platform & Unreserved Tickets
Revamping Reservation Systemss into Next Gen e-Ticketing System. Real time tracking of all trains & rolling stock
Women RPF Constables to escort the ladies coaches; mobile phones for all RPF escort teams in trains.
Provision of Rs 1785 crore for Road-over/under bridges, multi-pronged approach to eliminate Unmanned Level Crossings
Launching feedback service through IVRS on the quality of food. Food can be ordered by SMS & phone.
Railway Budget 2014
Bullet train proposed on identified Mumbai-Ahmedabad Sector.
New Trains: 5 Jansadharan, 5 Premium & 6 AC, 27 Express Trains, 8 Passenger, 5 DEMU & 2 MEMU services; 11 train extensions.
Increasing mechanized laundries for quality bedrolls in AC coaches, introduction of RO drinking water.
Surplus revenues has declined. Rs.5 Lakh Cr required for ongoing projects putting strain on allotted resources.
Tariff Policy lacked rationality. Loss per passenger/km increased from 10 paisa/km to 23 paisa/km.
40 percent higher allocation, outsourcing at 50 major stations, onboard housekeeping to be extended to more trains
Decision Support System for project implementation and Strategic partnerships & transparency in procurement.
The recent fare and tariff hike to mop additional revenue of about Rs 8000 crore.
Resource mobilisation through leveraging PSU resources, Foreign Direct Investment and Public Private Participation.
The Minister highlights initiatives required to get Railways back on track. There will be a near Plan-holiday approach.
Share of Railways in freight traffic came down consistently. Our vision is to make Railways the largest freight carrier.
Surplus revenues declining. Hardly any resources for development works. Rs.5 Lakh Cr required for ongoing projects alone.
The Tariff Policy adopted lacked rational approach. Loss per passenger/km increased from 10 paisa/km (2000-01) to 23 paisa/km (2012-13)
