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Rail Budget to spell out strategy to shore up revenue

Having done a pre-budget hike of 14.2 per cent in passenger fares and raised freight rates, railway minister Sadananda Gowda’s maiden budget is likely to adopt a realistic approach in announcing new trains, lines and survey in view of the cash crunch of Rs 26,000 crore. With the growth in passenger earnings declining, railways is likley to spell out its strategy to earn additional revenue to reach the target in the current fiscal.

While many unviable projects may be scrapped, Gowda will also announce some new projects on priority basis in the rail budget 2014-2015 on Tuesday. Since the government is grappling with ever-increasing fuel cost, harnessing alternative energy like solar power and bio-diesel in a big way is likely to feature in the NDA government’s first Rail Budget as it is believed to be the vision of prime minister Narendra Modi who wants use of non-renewable energy in rail sector so that the dependence on fuel is less.

Gowda is likely to announce pilot project for introduction of automatic closing of doors in Shatabdi coaches and EMU coaches in Mumbai suburban train as safety measures for passengers to prevent accidental fall from running train. There will be provision for a few new trains including premium and services connecting various pilgrim centres in the Rail Budget 2014-15.

Managing passenger service through cross-subsidy from freight earnings, railways may spell out its policy on FDI to attract foreign capital in expansion of rail infrastructure including modernisation of station and high speed train. The Rail Budget will spell out details of future course of action plan for having a ‘Diamond Quadrilateral’ to run high speed trains. The budget will also reflect the views of NDA government on Rail Tariff Authority and High Speed Rail Authority. Though involvement of private players in big ticket projects is becoming a necessity now, the state-run transporter has to come out with win-win formula for investors in a hassle-free environment.

Hinting at the possibility of private investment in rail sector, the Prime Minister had recently said that private parties would be ready to invest in rail sector like development of stations. ‘This would be a win-win situation project and we want to move ahead in this direction in the coming days,’ Modi had said. Former railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge had set a revenue target of Rs 1.65 lakh crore in the interim budget which includes Rs 1.06 lakh crore from goods and Rs 45,255 crore from passenger and balance from coaching and other sources.

Railways, which have sought about Rs 40,000 cr as Gross Budgetary Support is likely to keep the annual plan at about Rs 64,000 crore. In its bid to increase carrying capacity of wagons, Gowda will propose development of higher capacity milk van for National Dairy Development Board, parcel van and light weight wagon for carrying salt. With the focus on alternative fuel, the budget will have proposals for bio-diesel plant and LNG locomotives in view of increased fuel prices.
The budget will emphasise on switching over to solar power for rail workshops, colonies, hospitals and stations.

Besides the proposal of setting up of power plants at vacant land and installing solar panels on rooftop of trains, the commissioning of solar power plant at Raebareli coach factory are likely to be announced. Gowda is likely to encourage use of innovative measures to perk up revenue and for use of latest technology to prevent mishaps while proposing installation of track side equipment to find fault such as over heating bearings, wheels and brake system and other damaged parts of rolling stock.

Railway Ministry joins Facebook, Twitter
New Delhi: On the eve of Rail Budget, the Railway ministry on Monday launched its official Twitter account and Facebook page in a bid to disseminate information quickly. ‘Tomorrow we are going to present the Rail Budget. As soon as the budget is presented, all information will appear on Twitter and Facebook,’ Railway minister Sadananda Gowda said here after the launch. He said the initiative will give a new boost to the Ministry in reaching out to the people. Besides, the national transporter will also have its presence on YouTube. From Tuesday onwards, one can see the all information on the social networking site, he said. Gowda said it was prime minister Narendra Modi’s idea that each and every person should be IT-enabled. Focusing on IT initiatives, Railways will also launch a new number – 022-4501555 – on Tuesday where people can dial in and hear the Budget. Besides railways enquiry number – 139 – will also become toll free soon and all these are slated to be announced in the Rail Budget. Asked whether the NDA’s maiden Rail Budget will be pro-people, Gowda said, ‘Which ever government whether BJP, Congress or Communist, it has to be a pro-people budget.’
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