Railways to develope 64 'multi-function stations': BanerjeeSeptember 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Railways have identified 64 stations around the country to be developed as "multi-function" stations, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday. "The expert committee on railway land usage, chaired by Dr.
Austerity drive already on in railways: Mamata BanerjeeSeptember 12th, 2009 KOLKATA - Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday said that her ministry has already begun an austerity drive and taken several cost-cutting measures to reduce additional expenditure. "I'd issued an order to cut all additional expenditure and it's already been implemented in the railways," Banerjee said while flagging off two new trains -- Sealdah-Ajmirsharif Express and Farakka-Nabadwip Express -- from Sealdah station here.
Railways plan budget hotels at major stationsJuly 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The railways ministry has asked the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) to set up budget hotels at all major stations either directly or through the public-private partnership (PPP) route. "IRCTC follows the two packet open competitive bidding system to grant licenses.
Banerjee dismisses corporate structure for railwaysJuly 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday ruled out corporatisation of the country's railroad network but said the private sector's participation can be considered for commercial use of railway land for areas like healthcare and education institutions. "I'm always in favour of our employees.
What is there for the common man in the rail budgetJuly 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - It has been dubbed a populist budget by critics but the rail budget presented Friday by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee has enough goodies targeted at the ordinary rail traveller:
- No increase in fares
- New 'izzat' scheme for poor to travel up to 100 km for Rs.25
- Low-cost, air-conditioned 'yuva trains' for youth at Rs.299-Rs.399
- New scheme for good quality food at affordable prices
- Special Trains to ferry perishable farm produce, rural craft
- Promise of clean toilets, potable water at stations, trains
- Tatkal scheme made more passenger-friendly, service charge cut to Rs.100
- New scheme for poor passengers to travel with 'dignity'
- A doctor at your service in every long-distance train
- 50 stations to be upgraded into world class facilities
- 12 new non-stop trains between key stations
Highlights of railway budget for 2009-10 (Second Lead)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
Passengers thrilled with world class station proposal, want deadlineJuly 3rd, 2009 LUCKNOW - With five stations in the state slated to be upgraded to global standards in Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's budget Friday, people in Uttar Pradesh are delighted but want a deadline to be set for the job. Though it is not known what exactly global facilities would entail, amongst the 50 stations to be made world class are Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra Cantonment and Mathura.
Bonanza for Maharashtra in railway budgetJuly 3rd, 2009 MUMBAI - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee has come up with a series of proposals for Maharashtra, including non-stop point-to-point service proposed for the first time in the history of Indian Railways. Apart from introducing nine new trains to Mumbai, Banerjee has proposed upgrading three stations in the state - Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Pune and Nagpur - to "world class" standards.
'Janata Khana' in Railway to have national and regional cuisinesJuly 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - All the zones in Indian Railways have been instructed to ensure availability of 'Janata Khana'. Presenting the Railway Budget for 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said that national and regional cuisines would be introduced in the catering by the Railways.
Highlights of railway budget for 2009-10July 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:
- 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 rolled out for 140 vulnerable stations
- 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 in 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 now buy 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
'Very competent' job by Mamata in short time: PMJuly 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Praising Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's budget Friday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said she had done a "very competent job" and had not just ensured that there was no burden on the passengers but also taken care of their safety. Banerjee had done a "very competent job in a short period of time.
Kerala to get eight new trains, two world class stationsJuly 3rd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala got a fair share of the budgetary proposals of Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee tabled in parliament Friday. The small southern state which had long complained of being "neglected" by successive railways ministers got eight new trains, two new railway lines and a railway medical college.
Indian Railways to convert 1,500 stations into disabled friendlyJune 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Railways has plans to introduce special facilities for the physically challenge's convenience at over 1,500 stations in the country. According to senior Railway Ministry officials, special facilities like access ramps, reserved parking slots, low height water taps and suitable toilets for differently-abled people will be developed in phases at important railway stations.
Railways will carry forward Lalu Prasad's projects: MinisterJune 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The railways ministry will carry forward the projects taken up by the former minister, Lalu Prasad, including the ambitious bullet train proposal, Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa said here Monday.
Highlights of interim railway budgetFebruary 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Following are the highlights of the interim rail budget for next fiscal presented by Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad in Lok Sabha Friday:
* Feasibility studies progressing well to start 'bullet trains' in India
* Railways will create record surplus of Rs.900 billion (Rs.90,000 crore) this fiscal
* In past five years, no burden imposed on train passengers
* Railways saw 14 percent rise in passenger income
* Railways managed 8 percent growth in freight loading
* Drop in train accidents, railway safety enhanced
* Rs.700 billion (Rs.70,000 crore) surplus ploughed back to improve efficiency
* Rs.367.73 billion (Rs.36,773 crore) spent this fiscal toward productivity, passenger facilities
* Railways to introduce wagons with higher capacity
* Railways to spend Rs.230 billion (Rs.23,000 crore) in 2009-10
* Work has started on Delhi-Mumbai dedicated freight corridor