Rail Budget 2016: Suresh Prabhu finds it hard to meet revenue targets

Several other provisions like toll-free helpline number for women passengers, insurance to passengers, mobile chargers in general bogies, Global Positioning System facility, additional compartments in long-distance trains, “Astha Rail” circuit for pilgrims will serve common man, Singh said.

Railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday informed Parliament that India’s first rail-auto transportation and logistics hub will be inaugurated in Chennai soon.

“On the basis of a bankable structure for private participation, it is proposed to undertake a bidding process for a few large and medium stations during the course of the next financial year”, Prabhu said in his 75 minute budget speech in English.

“Senior citizens are worst sufferers as they don’t get lower berths and it’s very hard for them to climb to the upper berth, but thankfully the railway minister has increased the quota per coach by 50%, which would make traveling a good experience”, said Nirmal Prasad, a retired government school teacher.

Modi was also seen clapping when Prabhu announced measures to create employment opportunities for “district domiciles” in railway projects and for having toilets in select railway stations for people with disabilities.

It said information technology services, telecom and engineering sectors can benefit from the announcements on the customer services side in the budget.

Provision of passenger amenities and beautification of stations will be taken on priority in pilgrim centres like Ajmer, Amritsar, Bihar Sharif, Chengannur, Dwarka, Gaya, Haridwar, Mathura, Nagapattinam, Nanded, Nasik, Pali, Parasnath, Puri, Tirupati, Vailankanni, Varanasi and Vasco.

“Our major focus will be on generating revenue from (non-traffic) sources, mainly advertising, parcel leasing, export of railway equipment and land monetisation”, the official said. He confirmed the implementation by the year end.

Moreover, the finance ministry has made a decision to keep the budgetary allocation to the railways ministry at Rs 40,000 crore, same as previous year.

“The rail budget does not envisage an increase in passenger fares or freight, however earnings from various segments are forecast to grow by an average of 10-12 per cent, thus leaving the door open for fare hikes during the year itself”, it said in a note.

CCTV surveillance in all stations in a phased manner. Hence a shortfall of Rs 4,798 crore.

Two locomotive factories at the cost of Rs 40,000 crore will be set up.