Highlights of the 2010-11 railway budget presented by Mamata Banerjee in parliament Wednesday:
– Impact of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations placed at Rs.55,000 crore
– Gross earnings in 2009-10 estimated at Rs.88,281 crore
– Working expenditure in 2009-10 estimated at Rs.83,440 crore
– Expenses during 2010-11 estimated at Rs.87,100 crore
– Thrust on expansion in 2010-11 with allocation of Rs.4,411 crore
– Kashmir role link to be extended to Sopore
– Net profit of Rs.1,328 crore in 2009-10
– 10 automobile ancillary hubs to be created
– Twenty-two million energy saving CFLs for lighting distributed already
– Policy decision to employ one member of family whose land is requisitioned for railway projects
– North-south, east-west dedicated freight corridors to be created
– Construction of high-speed passenger rail corridors envisaged
– More multi-functional hospitals to be set up
– Educational facilities to be set up for children of 80,000 women families
– Special facilities to be established for gangmen
– Insurance facilities for licensed porters as part of railway’s corporate social responsibility
– Centre for railway research to be established with Indian Institutes of Technology and Defence Research and Development Organisation
– Will involve unions in policy making
– Integral Coach Factory Chennai to be further modernised
– New wagon repair shop in Mumbai
– Design, development and testing centre for railway wheels at Bangalore
– Within five years, all unmanned level crossings to be manned
– Construction of more underpasses, besides road overbridges
– Greater coordination with state governments to protect railway property
– Security of women passengers to be improved
– Ex-servicemen to be employed in Railway Protection Force
– Five sports academies to be set up; astroturf to be provided for development of hockey; employment opportunities for sports persons
– Railways to be lead partner for Commonwealth Games
– Special drive to increase passenger amenities
– Upgradation of 94 stations
– Six new drinking water bottling plants in public-private partnership (PPP) mode
– Modern toilets at railway stations
– More ticketing centres to help the public
– Acquisition of cutting edge safety technology
– 1,000 route km to be created
– Special task force for clearing investment proposals in 100 days
– New business model to be created
– No privatisation; railways will remain with government but with greater participation of business community
– 117 of 120 new trains for current fiscal to be flagged off
