Rail Budget 2013: Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14

. A new fund-Debt Service Fund set up to meet committed liabilities.

. Freight loading of 1047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13

. Passenger growth 5.2% in 2013-14

. Gross Traffic Receipts - Rs. 1,43,742 crore i.e. an increase of 18,062 crore over RE, 2012-13

. Dividend payment estimated at Rs. 6,249 crore

. Operating Ratio to be 87.8% in 2013-14

. Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased

. Fuel Adjustment Component linked revision for freight tariff to be implemented from 1st April 2013

. Enhanced reservation fee abolished

. Elimination of 10797 Level Crossings (LC) during the 12th Plan and no addition of new LCs henceforth

. Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains

. 'Aadhar' to be used for various passenger and staff related services

. Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours

. E-ticketing through mobile phones

. Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status

. Next -Gen e-ticketing system to be rolled out : capable of handling 7200 tickets per minute against 2000 now, 1.20 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 now

. Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations: Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru

. Introduction of 'Azadi Express' to connect places associated with freedom movement

. Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rain passengers, especially women passengers

. 10% RPF vacancies being reserved for women

. 1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged

. Railways to impart skills to the youth in railway related trades in 25 locations

. Provision of portable fire extinguishers in Guard-cum-Brake Vans, AC Coaches and Pantry Cars in all trains

. Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback

. Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains

. Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains

. Upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected

. Introduction of an 'Anubhuti' coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services

. 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently-abled

. Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly

. Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321)

. Complimentary card passes to recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Dhyan Chand Awards to be valid for travel by 1st Class/2nd AC

. Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

. Travel by Duronoto Trains permitted on all card passes issued to sportspersons having facility of travel by Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

. Facility of complimentary card passes valid in 1st class/2nd AC extended to parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President's Police Medal for Gallantry and policy medal for Gallantry

. Policy Gallantry awardees to be granted one complimentary pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2nd AC in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains

. Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years instead of every year.

. Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad

. Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for training in rail related electronics technologies

. Setting up of a centralized training institute at Secunderabad--Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management

. Five fellowships in national universities to be instituted to motivate students to study and undertake research on Railway related issues at M.Phil and Ph.D. levels

. Fund allocation for staff quarters enhanced to Rs. 300 crore

. Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all divisional headquarters

. Provision of water closets and air conditioners in the locomotive cabs to avoid stress being faced by loco pilots