The budget that was presented had a lot to offer in terms of upgradation and future developments including the bullet trains, sanitation, wi-fi facilities but very little when it came to bringing down fares.
Narendra Modi reiterated the fact that budget was pro-development and had to happen for India to usher in a new era from India. He praised Rail Budget and said, "initiatives taken will help Indian economy in a big way. Rail budget is a growth engine. This budget will prove that. We neglected it in the past. Aimed at overall development of India. It is a modern budget. Focussed on science and technology,"
Below are Narendra Modi's tweets:
Meanwhile Congress scion Rahul Gandhi bashed the budget for being anti-poor. Joining him was former Railways minister PK Bansal who criticised the Rail Budget. He said that the budget focussed more on minor issues. The Congress also criticised Rail Budget calling it a bankrupt budget.
Below are all major updates from Budget 2014 and Sadananda Gowda's proposal:
* Social obligation of Railways in 2013-14 was Rs 20,000 crore
* Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore; operating ratio was 94 per cent, says Gowda presenting Rail Budget.
* Focus in past has been on sanctioning projects rather than completing them.
* Indian Railways spent Rs 41,000 crore on laying of 3,700 km of new lines in last 10 years.
* Populist projects and mismanagement have brought Railways to point of funds crunch.
* This state of affairs in railways needs immediate course correction.
* Need to explore alternative sources of resource mobilisation and not depend on fare hike alone.
* FDI in railway projects, except in operations, to be attracted.
* Future projects to be financed on public-private partnership model.
* Plans to attract investment from domestic and foreign players in infrastructure; focus to be on aggressive indigenisation.
* There was decline in traffic growth and deterioration in operating ratio in 2013-14.
* Expenditure in 2014-15 pegged at Rs 149,176 crore.
* Loss per passenger per kilometre up from 10 paise (in 2000-01) to 23 paise (2012-13).
* Gross traffic receipts in 2014-15 estimated at Rs 1,64,374, expenditure Rs 1,49,176 crore. A 12.9 per cent growth expected in traffic receipt.
* Railways to scale down market borrowings to Rs 11,790 crore.
* Indian Railways to set up food courts at major railway stations.
* Retiring room facility to be extended to all stations.
* Budget allocation for cleanliness up by 40% over the last year.
* CCTVs to be used at stations for monitoring cleanliness at railway stations; third party inspections to be introduced.
* Reservation system will be revamped and ticket-booking through mobile phones and post offices popularised.
* 4,000 women constables to be inducted to enhance onboard safety.
* Recent fare and tariff hike to mop additional revenue of about Rs 8,000 crore.
* Resource mobilisation through leveraging PSU resources, Foreign Direct Investment and Public Private Participation: Rail Minister. PTI Outsourcing at 50 major stations; onboard housekeeping to be extended to more trains; Launching feedback service through IVRS on the quality of food; Food can be ordered by SMS and phone. PTI
* Gowda announces decision to launch diamond quadrilateral of high speed trains.
* Bullet train proposed on Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector.
* Ladies' coaches to be escorted by women RPF constables; additional care for ladies travelling alone, says
* Railways plans to increase speed of trains to 160 to 200 km per hour in nine select sectors.
* Wi-Fi in A-1 and A category stations and in select trains: Rail Minister.
* Future e-Ticketing to support 7200 tickets per minute and to allow 1.2 lakh simultaneous users: Rail Minister.
* Challenges of tomorrow cannot be met by tools of yesterday: Rail Minister.
* To ensure safety, provision of Rs 1,785 crore for road-over/under bridges, multi-pronged approach to eliminate unmanned level crossings.
* Some stations to be developed to international standards through PPP model:
* Parcel traffic to be segregated to separate terminals to make passenger traffic unhindered:
* Railway Minister announces GIS Mapping and digitisation of Railway Land.
* Govt to make e-procurement compulsory for procurements over Rs 25 lakh: Rail Minister.
* Hospital Management Information System to integrate all railway health units and hospital: Rail Minister.
* Govt to set up Railway University for technical and non-technical subjects; to tie-up with technical institutions.
* Govt proposes rail connectivity to 'chaar dham' in Uttarakhand:
* Govt proposes Office-on-Wheels; internet and workstation facilities on select trains.
* Rail Minister announces connectivity to ports through PPP, procurement of parcel vans and rakes by private parties for resource augmentation.
* Rail Minister announces setting up of logistic parks, private freight terminals on PPP model.
* Rail Minister announces 18 new line surveys, 10 surveys for doubling 3rd and 4th lines and gauge conversion.
* Govt proposes 29 projects, costing Rs 20,680 crore, currently running in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana:
* Govt proposes 54 per cent higher funds for 23 ongoing projects in the Northeast with an outlay of Rs 5,116 crore.
* Govt proposes highest ever plan outlay of Rs 65,455 crore for 2014-15.
* Only 317 projects completed out of 674 sanctioned in the last 30 years; about Rs 1,82,000 crore required for the rest.
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