Rail Budget 2013-14 Highlights list

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal is presenting his maiden budget in Parliament.

Here are the highlights:

Indian railways must remain financially sustainable.

Railways powerful vehicle driving the growth of the country.

Railways losses are mounting.

There has been significant drop in train accidents.

Rail budget estimated at Rs. 5.19 crore.
Losses to railways on account of passenger traffic likely to mount to Rs 24,600 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 22,500 crore in 2011-12.
Rs one lakh crore to be raised from public-private partnership, Rs 1.05 lakh crore through internal resources in the 12th Plan.
Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings: Bansal

Elimination of 10,700 unmanned level crossings targeted during the Plan; no more new such crossings to be created.

Corporate Safety Plan to be prepared for ten-year period (2014-24).

Identification of 104 stations for upgradation in places with more than one million population and of religious significance: Bansal.

Railways to set up six more Rail Neer bottling plants: Bansal.

A new e-ticketing system will handle 1,00,000 users logins. The present capacity stands at 40,000.

Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours.

Free wi-fi facility to be provided in select trains.

Common rail-bus ticket to be introduced for Katra-Vaishnodevi pilgrims

New train Azadi Express to places linked with the freedom struggle to be introduced, fares to be concessional.

Indian Institute of Railway Financial Management to be set up in Secunderabad: Bansal

Allocation of Rs 1,000 crore each made for railway land development authority and railway station development authority.

New coach manufacturing and maintenance facilities to be set up in various places including Rae Bareli, Bhilwara, Sonepat, Kalahandi, Kolar, Palakkad and Pratapgarh.