Union Rail Budget 2012-13

Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi presented the Union Rail Budget 2012-13 in the parliament on 14 March 2012. The toatl budget outlay for 2012-13 stood at 60100 crore Rupees, which is the highest figure ever. Trivedi, who presented his first railway budget laid special emphasis on safety and modernisation of railway. In a bold move aimed at rescuing the financially troubled Indian Railways, the minister for the first time in the past 9 years announced to increase the rail fares. Freight rates were also hiked in the budget.

Budget, which was prepared in the line of the recommendations made by two different committees headed by Sam Pitroda and Anil Kakodkar, tried to address the safety and modernisation issues at length.

Highlights of the Railway Budget 2012-13 are following:

•    Moderate hike in passenger fares;

Propsed hikes are as follows:

 For second class- 2 paise per km on suburban trains and 3 paise per km on mail and express trains;

 For sleeper class- 5 paise per km 10 paise per km 

 For a/c III tier and first class- 10 paise per km

For a/c II tier- 15 paise per km

For a/c I- 30 paise per km

•    Total Outlay for 2012-13 is 60100 crore Rupees, the highest ever.

•    Targeting freight carriage of 1025 million tonnes to bring in 89339 crore Rupees

•    Gross passenger earnings estimated at 36073 crore Rupees

•     Gross receipts estimated at 1.32 lakh crore Rupees

•    Railways will require 14 lakh crore Rupees in the next 10 years for modernisation.

•    7.35 lakh crore Rupees investment during 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17), a quantum jump from the previous figure of 1.92 lakh crore Rupees

•    75 new express trains; 21 new passenger trains, 75 new services in Mumbai suburban system

•    39 trains’ routes extended

•    23 trains’ frequency increased

•    Guru Parikrama trains to be run to Amritsar, Patna and Nanded.

•    Free travel by Rajdhani express for Arjuna awardees.

•    Green toilets to be installed in 2500 coaches in the next one year

•    1112 crore Rupees allocated to improve the passenger amenities

•    2100 specially designed coaches manufactured to meet needs of the differently abled

•    Focus during next five years on five areas: tracks, bridges, signalling, rolling stock and stations.

•    Signalling to be improved over 19000 km.

•    1.70 lakh crore Rupees on rolling stock in next five years.

•    Stress on strengthening safety.

•    Independent railway safety authority to be set up as statutory safety body.

•    5.60 lakh crore Rupees required for modernization of Railways.

•    4410 crore Rupees for capacity augmentation in 2012-13.

•    85 new line projects to be taken up during 2012-13.

•    114new line surveys to be undertaken during 2012-13.

•    6870 crore Rupees for new line projects in 2012-13.

•    Gauge conversion to be undertaken over 800 km with an allocation of Rs.1,950 crore.

•    Dedicated railway design wing at National Institute of Design with a contribution of Rs.10 crore.