Rail Budget: Dinesh Trivedi increases train fares after nine years

 

Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi presented his maiden budget for 2012-13 on Wednesday announcing a marginal hike in passenger fares across all classes of category ranging from Re 0.02 to Re. 0.30 per kilometer for the first time in ten years and left the recently-hiked freight rates untouched. He also raised platform ticket rate from the present Re.3 to Re.5.

The budget focuses on five important aspects -- safety, consolidation, decongestion, capacity augmentation and modernization. It also envisages bring down of operating ratio from the 95 percent to 84.9 in 2012-13.

The Railways recently had increased freight rates for all commodities, including foodgrains, fertilizer, cement, coal, and petroleum products, ranging from 15 to 35 percent commodity-wise to fetch around Rs.20,000 crore.

Trivedi announced introduction of new express and passenger trains and four new rail coach factories.

He also indicated that the Railways would focus on innovative means of raising revenues in the absence of desired gross budgetary support from the government.

The Minister said, "While balancing my budget this year and formulating the Rail Budget for the next fiscal, I have had a hard look at the revenue model available to us and have realized the true import of the dictum - one who does not help himself is helped by none."

Annual Plan for 2012-13

Trivedi told the House that the budget would have the highest-ever annual plan outlay of Rs.60,100 crore, providing Rs.6,872 crore for new lines and significant funds for passengers safety, security and amenities.

He said the plan outlay would be financed through gross budgetary support of Rs.24,000 crore, railway safety fund of Rs.2,000 crore; internal resources of Rs.18,050 crore; and extra budgetary resources of Rs.16,050 crore, which includes market borrowing of Rs.15,000 crore through IRFC.

Tariffs

Passenger fares to go up by Re.0.02 per km on suburban and ordinary second class, Re.0.03 per km for all mail/express second class, Re.0.05 per km for sleeper class, Rs.10 per km for A/C chair car, AC 3-tier and First Class, Re.0.15 per km A/C 2-tier, and Re.0.30 per km for A/C First class.

Minimum fare and platform ticket to cost Rs.5.

The value of concessions extended by Railways to certain section of passengers is more than Rs.800 crore a year, he said. Continuing this contribution of the Indian Railways to the society, he also announced 50 percent concession in fare in AC-2, AC-3, chair car and sleeper classes to patients suffering from Aplastic Anaemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia.

In recognition of the laurels which the winners of Arjuna Awards have brought to the country through their outstanding performance in their respective sports, it is also proposed to extend travel facility enjoyed by them to Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains also.

To give relief to the poorest section of the society, travel distance under 'Izzat Scheme' has also been increased from 100 kms to 150 kms, thus covering all designated suburban sections keeping the rate of Rs.25 unchanged.

SMS on mobile phones in case of e-ticket to be accepted as proof of valid reservation.

Trivedi proposed to introduce 75 new express trains, 21 passenger trains, eight MEMUs and nine DEMUs during 2012-13, besides introducing Guru Parikrama Special Trains for Sikh pilgrimage.

The Minister also announced extension of 39 trains, increase in the frequency of 23 trains, 75 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 44 new suburban services for Kolkata. 50 new services in Kolkata Metro and 18 additional services in Chennai area. A total of 725 km new lines will also be taken up during the year.

Estimates for 2012-13

Gross Traffic Receipts for FY13 is projected at Rs.132,552 crore, an increase of Rs.28,635 crore over the revised estimates of 2011-12. It will be met through freight earnings target of Rs.89,399 crore and Rs.36,0736 crore from passenger revenue.

He announced that freight loading during 2012-13 was expected to be 1,025 million tonnes, which will be 55 MT more than the revised estimated target of 970 million tonne for 2011-12. The passenger growth for the year is pegged at 5.4 per cent.

Significance of Railway Budget 2012

The rail budget of India has great significance for people and governments. With 114,500 kilometers of total track over a route of 65,000 kilometers and 7,500 stations the Indian railways holds fourth position in the world after United States, Russia and China. Besides carrying a massive amount of passengers and freight it is also biggest employer in India in terms of number of employee as it employs 1.4 million people. The number of people working with Indian railway is larger than the combined manpower of all the three forces; army, navy and air force. So it is not difficult to imagine the significance of rail budget 2012 for common man.

Indian railway is even stronger in terms of its carrying capacity as it owns 240,000 (freight) wagons, 60,000 coaches and 9,000 locomotives. So it can be termed quite resourceful. The hike is passenger fare is also in offing. Currently the railways collects Rs 30,000 crore from passenger fares and even a small increase in this could add a large sum of money that could give boost to the economic status of the railway. Hike in passenger fares can be made in railway budget2012-13.

In recent years the luxury trains of Indian railways, like Rajdhani Express and Shatabadi Express are facing stiff competition from low-cost airline carrier so railway might announce introductions of some high-speed trains. Expert opinions in this regard have already been sought from France and Japan. Introduction of high sped train may bring high-end customers to its fold. These announcements can be made in rail budget 2012-13.

In addition a lot has to be done on security front and introduction of cutting age security devices are also in offing. Apart from these, railway minister Dinesh Trivedi may focus on adding new lines, freight corridor, and modernization of stations and operations. So the rail budget 2012-13 will be worth watching.
List of new trains proposed in Railway Budget 2012-13
NEW DELHI: Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi has announced several new trains in his maidenbudget speech. Presenting the rail budget, railway minister announced 75 new express trains and 21 passenger trains.

Dinesh Trivedi also announced Guru Parikrama trains to be run to Amritsar, Patna and Nanded.

Two double-decker trains and a Shatabdi train are among the new express trains announced in the Rail Budget 2012-13.

Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express, Chennai-Bangalore AC double-decker Express and Habibganj-Indore AC double-decker express trains were announced by railway minister Dinesh Trivedi while presenting hisRailway Budget 2012-13.

For northeast region, Trivedi announced introduction of Dibrugarh-Kolkata Express, Kamakhya-Lokmany Tilak AC express, and Kamakhya-Tezpur Intercity Express among other trains.

He also announced 75 additional services to run in Mumbai suburb.

For Kolkata Metro, Trivedi announced 50 new services to be introduced in the 2012-13. The Rail Budget also announced 18 additional services to be run in Chennai area.

Here is the list of new express trains, passenger trains, MEMU, DEMU, extension of run and increase in frequency of trains. 

Express Trains: 
1. Kamakhya-Lokmanya Tilak (T) AC Express (Weekly) via Katihar, Mughalsarai, Itarsi 
2. Secunderabad-Shalimar AC Express (Weekly) via Vijayawada 
3. Bandra (T)-Bhuj AC Express (Tri-Weekly) 
4. Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Udhampur AC Express (Tri-Weekly) via Ambala, Jalandhar 
5. Coimbatore-Bikaner AC Express (Weekly) via,Roha,Vasai Road,Ahmedabad,Jodhpur 
6. Kakinada-Secunderabad AC Express (Tri-weekly) 
7. Yesvantpur-Kochuveli AC Express ( Weekly) 
8. Chennai-Bangalore AC Double-decker Express (Daily) 
9. Habibganj-Indore AC Double-decker Express (Daily) 
10. Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express (6 days a week) via Malda Town 
11. Kamakhya-Tezpur Intercity Express (Daily) 
12. Tiruchchirappalli-Tirunelveli Intercity Express (Daily) via Madurai,Virudunagar 
13. Jabalpur-Singrauli Intercity Express (Daily) via New Katni Jn. 
14. Bidar-Secunderabad Intercity Express (6 days a week) 
15. Kanpur-Allahabad Intercity Express (Daily) 
16. Chhapra-Manduadih Intercity Express (Daily) via Phephna, Rasra, Mau, Aunrihar 
17. Ranchi-Dumka Intercity Express (Daily) via Deoghar 
18. Barbil-Chakradharpur Intercity Express (Daily) via Dongoaposi, Jhinkpani 
19. Secunderabad-Belampalli Intercity Express(Daily) via Kazipet 
20. New Jalpaiguri - New Cooch Behar Intercity Express (5 days a week) 
21. Ahmedabad-Ajmer Intercity Express (Daily) 
22. Dadar (T)- Tirunelveli Express (Weekly) via Roha, Coimbatore,Erode 
23. Visakhapatnam-Chennai Express (Weekly) 
24. Visakhapatnam-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Weekly) via Vijayawada,Manmad 
25. Indore-Yesvantpur Express (Weekly) via Itarsi,Narkher,Amravati,Akola,Kacheguda 
26. Ajmer-Haridwar Express (Tri-weekly) via Delhi 
27. Amravati-Pune Express (Bi-weekly) via Akola, Purna and Latur 
28. Kacheguda-Madurai Express (Weekly) via Dharmavaram,Pakala,Jolarpettai 
29. Bikaner-Puri Express (Weekly) via Jaipur,Kota,Katni Murwara, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur 
30. Secunderabad-Darbhanga Express (Bi-weekly) via Ballarshah, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Ranchi, Jhajha 
31. Bilaspur-Patna Express (Weekly) via Asansol, Jhajha 
32. Howrah-Raxual Express (Bi-weekly) via Asansol, Jhajha, Barauni 
33. Bhubaneswar-Bhawanipatna Link Express (Daily) via Vizianagaram 
34. Puri-Yesvantpur Garib Rath Express (Weekly) via Visakhapatnam, Guntur 
35. Sai Nagar Shirdi-Pandharpur Express (Tri-weekly) via Kurduwadi 
36. Bhubaneswar-Tirupati Express (Weekly) via Visakhapatnam,Gudur 
37. Visakhapatnam-Lokmanya Tilak(T) Express (Weekly) via Titlagarh,Raipur 
38. Howrah-Lalkuan Express (Weekly) via Mughalsarai,Varanasi,Lucknow 
39. Kolkata-Jaynagar Express (Weekly) via Asansol,Jhajha,Barauni 
40. Dibrugarh-Kolkata Express (Weekly) 
41. Firozpur-Sriganganagar Express (Daily) via Fazilka,Abohar 
42. Jaipur-Secunderabad Express (Weekly) via Nagda, Bhopal, Narkher, Amravati, Akola 
43. Okha-Jaipur Express (Weekly) via Palanpur,Ajmer 
44. Adilabad-Hazur Sahib Nanded Express (Daily) via Mudkhed 
45. Shalimar-Chennai Express (Weekly) 
46. Mysore-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express (Weekly) via Bangalore,Dharmavaram,Bellary 
47. Valsad-Jodhpur Express (Weekly) via Palanpur,Marwar 
48. Porbander-Secunderabad Express (Weekly) via Viramgam,Vasai Road 
49. Bandra (T)-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express (Weekly) via Palanpur, Phulera 
50. Hapa-Madgaon Express (Weekly) via Vasai Road,Roha 
51. Bikaner-Bandra (T) Express (Weekly) via Jodhpur,Marwar,Ahmedabad 
52. Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur Express (Weekly) via Palanpur,Jaipur,Mathura,Farrukhabad, Kanpur 
53. Durg-Jagdalpur Express (Tri-Weekly) via Titlagarh 
54. Mannargudi - Tirupati Express (Tri-Weekly) viaThiruvarur,Villupuram,Katpadi 
55. Gandhidham-Bandra (T) Express (Weekly) via Morbi 
56. Kota-Hanumangarh Express (Daily) via Jaipur,Degana,Bikaner 
57. Jhansi-Mumbai Express (Weekly) via Gwalior, Maksi, Nagda 
58. Secunderabad-Nagpur Express (Triweekly) via Kazipet 
59. Kanpur-Amritsar Express (Weekly) via Farrukhabad, Bareilly 
60. Chappra-Lucknow Express (Tri-Weekly) via Masrakh,Thawe,Padrauna 
61. Karimnagar-Tirupati Express (Weekly) via Pedapalli 
62. Anandvihar-Haldia Express(Weekly) via Mughalsarai, Gomoh, Purulia 
63. Barrackpore-Azamgarh Express (Weekly) via Jhajha, Ballia, Mau 
64. Indore-Rewa Express ( Tri-weekly) via Bina 
65. Running of independent train between Jabalpur-Hazrat Nizamuddin by delinking from 12405/12406 Bhusawal- Hazrat Nizamuddin and 12409/12410 Raigarh-Nizamuddin Gondwana Express 
66. Darbhanga-Ajmer Express (Weekly) via Raxaul, Sitapur, Bareilly, Kasganj, Mathura 
67. Solapur-Yesvantpur Express (Tri-weekly) via Gulbarga 
68. Chennai-Puri Express (Weekly) 
69. Hyderabad-Ajmer Express (Weekly)via Manmad, Itarsi, Ratlam 
70. Asansol-Chennai Express (Weekly) via Purulia, Sambalpur,Vizianagaram 
71. Shalimar-Bhuj Express (Weekly) via Bilaspur, Katni, Bhopal 
72. Amritsar- Hazur Sahib Nanded Express (Weekly) 
73. Santragachi-Ajmer Express (Weekly) via Kharagpur, Chandil, Barkakana, Katni, Kota 
74. Malda Town-Surat Express ( Weekly) via Rampur Hat, Asansol, Nagpur 
75. Dwarka-Somnath Express (Daily) 

Passenger Trains 

1. Koderma-Nawadih Passenger (6 Days) 
2. Sriganganagar-Suratgarh Passenger (Daily) 
3. Yerraguntla-Nosam/Nanganapalli Passenger (Daily) 
4. Villupuram-Katpadi Passenger (Daily) 
5. Gunupur-Palasa (Via Parlakhemundi) Passenger (Daily) 
6. Ajmer-Pushkar Passenger (5 Days) 
7. Kota-Jhalawar City Passenger (Daily) 
8. Bareilly-Kasganj Passenger (Daily) 
9. Anandnagar-Barahani Passenger (Daily) 
10. Rangiya-Tezpur Passenger (Daily) 
11. Mysore-Shravan Belgola (Daily) 
12. Jodhpur-Bilara Passenger (Daily) 
13. Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai Passenger (Daily) 
14. Rohtak-Panipat Passenger (Daily) 
15. Miraj-Kurudwadi Passenger (Daily) 
16. Phulera-Rewari Passenger (Daily) 
17. Mysore-Chamarajanagar Passenger (Daily) 
18. Gorakhpur-Siwan Passenger (Daily) via Kaptanganj,Thawe 
19. Running of independent Passenger trains between Rewa-Bilaspur and Rewa-Chirmiri by delinking from 51751/51752 Rewa-Bilaspur Passenger and 51753/51754 Rewa-Chirmiri Passenger 
20. Mysore-Birur Passenger via Arsikere (Daily) 
21. Jhansi-Tikamgarh Passenger via Lalitpur 

MEMU 
1. Dahod-Anand 
2. Anand-Gandhinagar 
3. Bina-Bhopal MEMU service in lieu of conventional services. 
4. Palakkad -Coimbatore-Erode 
5. Ernakulam - Thrisur 
6. Adra-Asansol 
7. Adra-Bishnupur via Bankura 
8. Sealdah-Lalgola 

DEMU 
1. Baripada-Bangriposi (Daily) 
2. Masagram-Matnashibpur (Daily) 
3. Mannargudi-Trichy-Manamadurai (Daily) 
4. Hoshiarpur-Firozpur (Daily) 
5. Siliguri-Changrabandha (Daily) 
6. Pratapnagar- Chota Udepur (Daily) 
7. New Jalpaiguri-Bamanhat DEMU service in lieu of conventional services. 
8. Delhi Sarai Rohilla - Farukhnagar (6 days a week) 
9. Katwa - Azimganj (Daily) 

Extension of Trains 
1. 12037/12038 New Delhi-Ludhiana Shatabdi Express on 2 days to Moga 
2. 12537/12538 Manduadih-Bapudham Motihari Express to Muzaffarpur 
3. 19051/19052 Valsad-Sonpur Express to Muzaffarpur 
4. 18417/18418 Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda Rajya Rani Express to Rourkela 
5. 12945/12946 Surat-Varanasi Express to Chhapra 
6. 13237/13238/13239/13240 Patna-Mathura Express to Kota 
7. 15013/15014 Kathgodam-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express to Jodhpur 
8. 12991/12992 Udaipur-Ajmer Express to Jaipur 
9. 16779/16780 Madurai-Tirupati Express to Rameswaram 
10. 22609/22610 Palakkad-Mangalore Express to Coimbatore 
11. 16227/16228 Bangalore-Shimoga Express to Talguppa 
12. 19781/19782/19771/19772 Jaipur-Amritsar Express to Ajmer 
13. 18005/18006 Howrah-Koraput Express to Jagdalpur 
14. 18207/18208 Durg-Jaipur Express to Ajmer 
15. 13155/13156 Kolkata-Darbhanga Express to Sitamarhi 
16. 19605/19606 Kolkata-Ajmer Express to Ahmedabad (via Abu Road) 
17. 12687/12688 Dehradun-Chennai Express to Madurai (via Erode) 
18. 11017/11018 Dadar-Yesvantpur Express to Puducherry (3 days) via Jolarpettai-Katpadi-Villupuram and to Tirunelveli (3 days) via Dharmapuri-Erode 
19. 14553/14554 Delhi-Una Himachal Express to Amb Andaura 
20. 12941/12942 Ahmedabad - Asansol Express to Bhavnagar 
21. 16649/16650 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express to Nagercoil 
22. 53139/53140 Kolkata-Chittaranjan Passenger to Deoghar 
23. 58207/58208 Raipur-Kesinga Passenger to Bhawanipatna 
24. 54033/54032 Delhi-Jind Passenger to Narwana 
25. 51973/51974 Mathura-Bandikui Passenger to Jaipur 
26. 55713/55714 New Jalpaiguri-Bongaigaon Passenger to Tezpur 
27. 54043/54044 Jind-Sirsa Passenger to Hisar 
28. 54809/54810 Rewari-Degana Passenger to Jodhpur 
29. 57502/57503 Bodhan-Nizamabad Passenger to Kamareddi 
30. 56011/56012 Arakkonam-Nandalur Passenger to Cuddapah 
31. 59117/59122 Pratapnagar-Bodeli Passenger to Chota Udepur 
32. 56714/56711 Tiruchchirapalli-Nagore Passenger to Karaikal

HIGHLIGHTS

*Minimum fare and platform tickets to cost Rs 5.

*75 mew Express trains to be introduced, along with 21 new passenger services, nine DEMU services and 8 MEMU services trains.

*Route of 39 trains to be extended and frequency of 23 trains to be increased.

*Railways to hire more than one lakh employees in 2012-13; 80,000 persons hired last year.

*Indian Railways Stations Development Corp to be set up to re-develop stations and maintain them like airports.

*To set up an independent Railway Safety Authority as a statutory body.

* The open discharge toilets on trains to be replaced with green (bio) toilets.

*All unmanned level crossings to be abolished in next five years; To target zero deaths due to rail accidents.

*To provide rail connectivity to neighbouring countries, a new line from Agartala to Akura in Bangladesh to be set up.

*Double-decker container trains to be introduced.

*Steps to improve cleanliness and hygiene on trains and stations within six months. A special house keeping body to be set up to take care of both stations and trains.

*New passenger services include escalators at major stations, alternative train accommodation for wait-listed passengers, laundry services, AC lounges, coin/currency operated ticket vending machines.

*Two new members, one for marketing, and other for safety, to be inducted into Railway Board.

*On board passenger displays indicating next halt station and expected arrival time to be introduced.

*Introduction of regional cuisine; Book-a-meal scheme to provide meals through SMS or email.

*Specially designed coaches for differently-abled persons to be provided in each Mail/Express trains.

*Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority to be considered.

*National High Speed Rail Authority to be set-up; Pre-feasibility studies on six high speed corridors completed; study on Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur to be taken up in 2012-13.

*Wellness programme for railway staff at work places.

*Institution of ‘Rail Khel Ratna’ Award for 10 rail sports-persons every year.

*A wagon factory at Sitapali, Odisha, rail coach factory at Palakkad, two additional new coach manufacturing units in Kutch (Gujarat) and Kolar (Karnataka); component factory at Shyamnagar (West Bengal); new coaching terminal at Naihati, the birth place of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

*Freight loading of 1,025 MT targeted; 55 MT more than 2011-12; Passenger growth targeted at 5.4 per cent.

*Passenger earnings to increase to Rs 36,200 crore.

*Gross rail traffic targeted to increase by Rs 28,635 crore to Rs 1,32,552 crore in 2012-13.