Let private players run tourist trains: Economic Survey

September 9th, 2009 Fed survey: most of US in economic healing modeWASHINGTON — A new government survey finds the vast majority of the country reporting economic activity is stabilizing or improving, as the worst recession since the 1930s appears to be over. The Federal Reserve's snapshot of economic conditions backs predictions by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and most other analysts that the economy has started to grow again in the current quarter.

July 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India is expected to issue by the end of this year a notification to increase foreign equity in defence production to 49 percent from the current 26 percent, a senior official said. This follows the Economic Survey for 2008-09 tabled in parliament July 2 that said that 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) should be permitted for high-technology defence equipment.

July 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian Railways have decided to run special trains for perishables and set up cold storages and temperature-controlled cargo centres in an effort to eliminate food wastage and contribute to India's second green revolution. "Railways will encourage creation of facilities of setting up cold storage and temperature-controlled perishable cargo centres and its transportation through public-private partnership mode," Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee said while presenting the rail budget in the Lok Sabha Friday.

July 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Following are the highlights of the rail budget for the current fiscal presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha Friday: - Rs.25 pass for unorganised sector employees of income below Rs.1,500 up to 100 km - New "Yuva" fully air-conditioned train for youth - Yuva fares Rs.299 up to a distance of 1,500 km and Rs.399 up to 2,500 km - Student concession to be extended to madarssa students - Student concession of 60 percent on Kolkata Metro - Introduction of trains for women during peak seasons - 12 non-stop trains - New train information system to be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi - 50 mobile rail ticket vans to be introduced - ATMs on 200 mid- and small-sized stations - Integrated security scheme for 140 vulnerable stations - Setting up of a 1,000 MW power plant - Special recruitment drive for the physically challenged, minorities - Committee under Sam Pitroda to commercialise railways' optic fibre network - Private operation of freight terminals to be encouraged - One doctor to be posted on each long distance train - New factory in West Bengal for making 500 state-of-the-art coaches annually - "Janta khana" (peoples' food) to be provided at railway stations - Railways will not be guided by economic viability, but by social commitment - Seven nursing colleges to provide employment to railway spouses - Medical colleges proposed to be opened through public-private partnership model - Cold storages and cargo facilities to eliminate wastage of perishables - 50 world class stations to be developed on public-private partnership model - 309 out of 375 stations will be developed with modern facilities - 50 stations at tourist, religious places to have integrated facilities - Infotainment facilities on Rajdhani Express for long distance passengers - Unreserved ticketing systems to be expanded from 5,000 to 8,000 terminals - Passengers can buy unreserved tickets at 5,000 post offices - Air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel - SMS updates for wait-listed passengers - 200 automatic vending machines at key stations for selling tickets - Discount for press correspondents increased from 30 to 50 percent - Discount of 60 percent on fare if press correspondents travel with spouse

July 3rd, 2009 CHENNAI - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's budget proposals presented in the Lok Sabha Friday did not include private sector participation in running of passenger trains on tourist routes, as suggested by the Economic Survey 2008-09. "Private entry into provision of passenger trains must be allowed to and from all the tourist destinations," the survey tabled in parliament a day earlier had said.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - There should be a single regulatory body for the transport sector including highways, railways, ports and airports to ensure better cohesion, the Economic Survey for 2008-09 tabled Thursday has suggested. According to the survey, there should be at least one member from each of these sub-sectors and the authority could have specialized groups of professionals in each sector.

July 2nd, 2009 CHENNAI - Life insurance penetration in India dipped in 2007, first time since the sector was opened up for private players a decade ago, said the country's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday. "The life insurance penetration in India increased from 1.77 percent in 2000 to 4.1 percent in 2006, before declining to 4 percent in 2007," the survey tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Owing to a shortage of long-term finance, it is difficult to achieve the investment target set for the infrastructure sector for the 11th Five-Year Plan period, India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday said. The government has estimated an investment requirement of $500 billion in the infrastructure sector for the plan period that ends in 2012 for achieving inclusive growth.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Economic Survey for 2008-09 Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee tabled in parliament Thursday has advocated sweeping policy changes like foreign investment in multi-brand retailing and higher foreign stake in insurance companies. The survey report card suggested the cap on foreign equity in insurance sector be raised to 49 percent from 26 percent currently.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday has called for allowing private players - both domestic and foreign - to invest in the country's nuclear power sector. The survey, tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, however, said the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap should be fixed at 49 percent.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government must allow entry of private players in passenger train operations and railway services to tourist destinations, the Economic Survey tabled in parliament Thursday said. "Private entry into provision of passenger train must be allowed to and from all the tourists destinations," said the survey.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Indian economy can expand as much as 7.75 percent this fiscal, says the country's Economic Survey for 2008-09, while calling for sweeping reforms in areas like foreign investment, divestment, taxation and the subsidy regime. "If the US economy bottoms out by September 2009 there would be good possibility for the Indian economy repeating its 2008-09 performance," said the country's annual economic report card tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

June 24th, 2009 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has written to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, listing the state's demands, including that of four new trains and five new railway lines, to be incorporated in this year's rail budget, an official said Wednesday. "Since the railway budget is schedule to be presented July 3, Raman Singh has sent a letter to the railway minister listing out Chhattisgarh's demands," the official told IANS.

June 6th, 2009 KOLKATA - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday announced two pairs of daily trains between Howrah and Digha, a popular coastal hotspot in West Bengal that she aims to transform into a major tourist destination. "From now on, there would be two trains, one early in the morning and the other in the afternoon, from Howrah railway station to Digha.

January 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Dismissing a public interest petition on trains often running late, the Delhi High court Wednesday said it does not have a magic wand to solve all problems. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah pulled up the petitioner who was seeking directions to the government to run trains on time.