Highlights of Railway Budget 2010-11

Presenting her second Rail Budget under the United Progressive Alliance government, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said there will be no forcible acquisition of land for the freight corridor project.

She further added that one member of each family of land losers will be given employment in the freight corridor as also in the new projects.

Highlights of the Rail Budget 2010-11:

• Double-decker trains to be introduced
• Laws and order not Rail's responsibility, but that of the states', said Mamata.
• Not to increase freight tariff. Railways to run a special train during CWG 2010.
• Railway exams can be taken in regional languages
• Railways not to be privatised -- it will remain with the government.
• Railways to set up mobile e-ticketing centres at hospitals, universities, courts, IITs, IIMs, district headquarters and village panchayats.

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Railways will provide houses to all its employees in the next 10 years in collaboration with the Urban Development Ministry.

• Railways to enhance contribution to central staff benefit fund.
• Centre for Railway Research to be set up at IIT-Kharagpur.
• Work on Rae Bareli Coach Factory in Uttar Pradesh to start within a year.
• Wagon Repair Shop to be set up in Badnera near Amravati in Maharashtra.
• Integral Coach Factory in Chennai to be modernised and a new unit to be set up there.
• If land is available, Railways willing to set up a Diesel Multiple Unit factory in West Bengal, says Banerjee.
• Railways to develop ten automobile hubs.

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Revenue from non-core business of Railways to go up from Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) to Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion).

• Despite slowdown, Railways to exceed freight loading target by eight million tonnes during 2009-10.
• Freight loading target for 2010-11 fixed at 944 million tonnes, 54 million tonnes more than the current year's revised target.
• Gross traffic receipt for 2010-11 pegged at Rs 94,765 crore.
• High-speed dedicated passenger corridors to be constructed; National High Speed Rail Authority to be set up.
• 1010 suburban trains for Mumbai
• Will induct ex-service men into railway security.
• 381 new diagnostic centers across the country.
• Will modernise 93 railway stations.

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Ticket counters at district headquarters and village panchayats.

• Railways will give concessions for sportspersons.
• Railways to set up sports academies.
• Railways will partner with CWG 2010.
• Security for women passengers to be improved
• Railways must develop new business models
• RFID technology to be used for freight transport
• Special task force to be set up for early clearance of projects
• Rs 1300 cr for passenger amenities
• Construction of multi-level parking through PPP model
• To complete 1000 km railway lines in one year

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Plan to raise Rs 10,000 - 20,000 crore (Rs 100 to 200 billion) by next fiscal

• Will withdraw examination fees for backward classes and women
• English, Hindi, Urdu will be used for Railway entrance exams
• To come out with 10 year plan called 'Vision 2020': Mamata
• Larger section of population to be connected: Mamata
• Looking at innovative ways for financing projects: Mamata
• Mamata appealed to the business houses to join hands for building partnership with the Railways.
• While not privatising, Railways have to develop business models for improving earnings
• Railways 2020 vision document will contain short, medium and long-term goals.
• Commitments fulfilled to the maximum. Out of 120 trains announced in last budget, only three remain to be flagged off because of lack of broad-gauge lines, says Banerjee.
• Railways to start six water bottling plants in places like Ambala, Thiruvananthapuram, Farakka, Amethi and Nasik to provide clean and cheap drinking water to passengers.
• Allocation for construction of new lines increased from Rs 2848 crore to Rs 4411 crore.