India Rail Budget 2008-09,India Railway Budget 2008-09,Indian Railways Budget 2008-09,Highlights of India Rail Budget 2008-09

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav presented the Rail Budget for 2008-09, on 26th February. Here is a compact information on the Railway Budget of 2008-2009 with a special emphasis on the new launches and initiatives in the Railway Industry :

Railway Budget estimates of Rs 50,000 crore for 2008-09
New investments of Rs 35,500 crore for 2008-09
Railway profit in 2007-08 at Rs 25,000 crore.
Completion of railway line construction in Kashmir valley by 2009
Railways show a surplus of Rs 68,778 cr in last four years
Freight loading target of 850 mn tonnes for 2008-09
Railway plan size has increased from Rs 11,000 cr to Rs 30,000 cr in last four years
Second Phase of Mumbai urban transport service to begin with investment of Rs 5,000 cr
Target for doubling of rail lines is 1000 kms in 2008-09
50% concession for AIDS patient
50% concession for senior citizens, women
10 new Garib Rath trains will be introduced
53 new trains to be started
Special train between Delhi and Pune for Commonwealth Games
Mother Child Health Express to be started
Foot overbridges will be provided at all high-level platforms
560 railway station platforms to be lengthened to adjust long trains properly.
Northern railway main hospital in New Delhi will become fully air-conditioned
Divisional railway hospitals in Jaipur and Hubli will also be upgraded
A new rail coach factory to be set up in Kerala
A 1,000 megawatt captive power plant to be set up at Nabinagar in Bihar
Call centre based inquiry services to be introduced by 2009
Close circuit TV (CCTV) and bomb detecting equipment to be installed at major stations.
Railway tickets will have 'expected time of arrival'
Plan for Smart-card-based ticket system
'Go Mumbai' card to be sold at bus depots.
By 2010, All coaches for mail and express trains will be made of steel.
Ticket confirmation via mobile phone on the cards
Wait-listed e-tickets will also issued
50 new terminals planned in Mumbai, Pune and Ghaziabad
15,000 ticketing counters and 6,000 automatic ticket machines will be introduced in the next 2 years.
Can buy tickets from anywhere in two years. The Railways also plans to offer tickets through mobile phones.
2300 kms broad gauge lines to be completed this year, target for next year is 3500 kms
Number of train services increased in peak season
Trains will be linked via IT, communications by 2009
Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to get sophisticated coaches soon
Outsource housekeeping in Shatabdis
Modular toilets to be installed in coaches
New Delhi, Mumbai Cent, Patna railway stations to become world-class
Express trains to have public address systems
Long-distance trains to display next station
Multilevel parking at 30 major stations
Free season tickets for girls till graduation
Reduction of AC 1st fares by 7%, AC 2nd by 4% and AC 3 by 2%
Sleeper fares cut by 5 %
Freight rates for petrol, diesel to be cut by 5 per cent

For any further information on RAIL BUDGET 2008- 2009 refer to the below link :
http://indianrailways.gov.in/budget-0809/highlights-0809-eng.pdf
Courtesy : Indian Railways

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Rail Budget 2008 - 2009