RAILWAY BUDGET 2009-10

Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today presented the Railway Budget for
2009-2010. The budget focused clearly on upgrading the existing infrastructure and
providing better services to passengers.
Highlights of Railway Budget:
The major highlights of Railway budget is as follows:

Passenger Fares and freight rates kept unchanged
To set up 1000 MW power plant in alliance with NTPC

To acquire 18, 000 wagons in FY10 against 11,000 FY09. Wagon
manufacturers such as BEML, Titagarh wagons, Texmaco will be gained
from wagon orders.

To develop 50 stations as world class stations with international facility. To be
developed in Public private partnership (PPP) mode.

To develop air-conditioned double decker coaches.

To introduce non-stop train services in select cities.

To set up Cargo centers for perishable commodities.

To set up Expert committee for optic fiber cable networks.

The Railways will also set up a coach unit, with a capacity to produce 500
coaches per year via ppp mode.

Set up panel on financing unviable railway projects.

Plans to expand Kolkata metro.

Non-stop New Trains - fast services from point to point to be introduced.

Tatkal charges to be reduced from Rs 100 to Rs 50, to be percentage of fare.

Tatkal Scheme to be reduced from 5 days to 2days.

Monthly Ticket Of Rs. 25/- For Unorganized Sector/Poor Under ‘Izzat’
Scheme.

Seven nursing colleges to be set up on railway land in places including Delhi,
Kolkata and Mumbai.

Freight traffic target at 882 mt for FY10 vs. at 850mt in FY09.

Plan Outlay Of Rs.40,745 Cr proposed For 2009-2010. Out of this, Rs.2, 921
cr will be spent on new lines, Rs.1,750 cr on gauge conversion and Rs.1,102
cr on passenger amenities.

Government to provide additional budgetary support of Rs 5000 crore to
railways in 2009/10.
Overall the budget was positive for markets. Development of new stations,
improvement of infrastructure facilities and purchase of 18000 new Wagons in FY10
will benefit wagon manufacturers and infrastructure companies.