Railway Budget 2011

-- Source of News – NDTV.com --
As usual India Railway budget is always healthy, 2011 is not a difference at all.

Here are the highlights of the Railway Budget 2011-12, presented by Railways Minister Mamata bannerjee in Parliament today :

• No hike in passenger fare and freight rates.
• A new portal for e-ticketing to be launched shortly. Booking charges will be cheaper with a charge of only Rs. 10 for AC classes and Rs.5 for others.
• Pan-India multi-purpose smart card "Go India" to be introduced.
• Feasibility study to raise speed of passenger trains to 160-200 kmph to be undertaken.
• Anti Collision Devise (ACD) sanctioned to cover 8 zonal railways.
• GPS Based Fog Safe Device to be deployed.
• All India Security Help line on a single number set up.
• All state capitals in the North-East except Sikkim to be connected by Rail in next seven years.
• 700 MW gas-based power plant to be set up at Thakurli in Maharashtra.
• A scheme for socially desirable projects, "Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana" with Non-lapsable fund proposed.
• Concession to physically handicapped persons to be extended on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
• Concession of 50% to press correspondents with family increased to twice a year.
• Senior Citizens concession to be hiked from 30 % to 40 %.
• Recruitment for 1.75 lakh vacancies of Group C and D including to fill up backlog of SC/ST initiated, 16,000 ex-servicemen to be inducted by March 2011.
• 2011-12 declared "Year of Green Energy" for Railways.
• Freight loading of 993 MT and passenger growth of 6.4 % estimated for 2011-12.
• Gross Traffic Receipts at Rs.1,06,239 crore, exceeding one lakh crore mark for the first time estimated.

With railway budget of 2011, corporates are very happy as there are not raise in the freight charges which is good sign as 'development-oriented' Also, the railways' emphasis on involving the private sector in infrastructure projects as part of Public Private Partnerships (PPP), was also praised by industry organisations

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Read more at : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mamata-rolls-out-voter-friendly-budget/articleshow/7578159.cms