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Highlights
of the Railway Budget 2004-05
6 July 2004, New Delhi
Following are the highlights of the Railway Budget for 2004-05
presented by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in the Lok Sabha, or
lower house of parliament Thursday:
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No
increase in freight and passenger rates
-
Rebate
of 10 percent for movement of heavy machinery.
-
Priority
to development and expansion of railway infrastructure as
mentioned in the ruling coalition's Common Minimum
Programme.
-
Modernization
of railways, replacement and renewal of assets particularly
track renewal, safety of passengers, cleanliness,
improvement in passenger amenities, control over expenditure
and prevention of leakage of revenue to be the thrust areas.
Safety
-
Train
accidents came down to 325 in 2003-04 from 473 in 2000-01.
-
Over
1,280 unmanned level crossings are to be manned over a
period of time.
Cleanliness
-
A
nationwide cleanliness drive has been launched - spirit of
competition infused.
-
Disposable
kulhars, earthen cups, will be made available, use of
plastic cups to be discouraged.
-
Development
of an environment-friendly coach toilet discharge system
taken up.
-
Upholstery
and linen used on railways will be made of handloom and
home-spun khadi.
Book-stalls
-
As
per new bookstall policy, allotment of stalls at certain
class of stations open only to unemployed graduates and
their association and 25 percent reservation for under
privileged section.
-
At
large stations, a two packet tender system introduced.
Better
availability of wagons to customers
Concessions
-
75
percent concession in fares in second and sleeper classes to
widows of defence personnel killed in action against
terrorists/extremists.
-
Escort
accompanying a deaf and dumb person also to get 50 percent
concession in fares in First, Second, Sleeper Classes and in
season tickets.
-
75
percent concession in fares for severe and moderate
haemophilia patients travelling for treatment.
-
Full
concession in second class to unemployed youths attending
interviews for selection to Central Government jobs to be
implemented.
Projects
-
1,650
kilometres of broad gauge line targeted for 2004-05.
-
Projects
in North Eastern States and Southern States also to be
expedited.
-
Target
of completion of 1,000 kilometres of gauge conversion in
2004-05.
-
375
route kilometres of electrification targeted for 2004-05.
Passenger
Amenities
-
An
outlay of Rs. 2.15 billion provided for passenger amenity
works.
-
Deployment
of women ticket checking squads.
-
Village-on-wheels
trains comprising ordinary sleeper class coaches to be
introduced for common man.
Passenger
Services
Annual
plan and estimates
-
Total
Plan outlay is Rs.144.98 billion ($3.22 billion).
-
Loading
target fixed at 580 million tonnes.
-
Freight
earnings placed at Rs. 287.45 billion ($6.39 billion).
-
Passenger
earnings placed at Rs. 139.40 billion ($3.10 billion).
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