New Delhi: Breaking News! Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has presented the Railway Budget 2010 in Lok Sabha. Mamata came up with a 10-year-plan, called 'Vision 2020'. She also announced 117 new trains, which will be flagged off in 7 months.

 

Mamata Banerjee asked for public-private partnership, with a focus on corporate sector. She said that it's time for private partnership in the Railways, but ruled out the privatization of Indian Railways. She also announced that the Railways saved Rs 2000 crore from austerity drive.

 

She took a potshot at the West Bengal government, saying security of the Railways is a state subject and the state governments should ensure proper safety to the passengers. Mamata also tried to please Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by announcing a water bottling plant for Amethi and a rail coach factory for Rai Bareli.

The Railway Budget 2010 has proposed Rs.41,426 crore outlay, allocation for new lines increased to Rs.2,848 crore from Rs.4,411 crore. Railway revenue through branding/advertising has gone up from Rs.150 crore to Rs.1,000.

 

Mamata Banerjee's Railway Budget 2010 was more focused on West Bengal and she did not leave any chance to offer special packages to her state, where assembly elections are due in 2011.  The Railway Budget 2010 is nothing but a West Bengal-specific budget and may help Mamata win the Assembly Elections, as none from Bengal will complain about this.

Highlights of Union Railway Budget 2010:

Vision & Objective:

• Mamata Banerjee presents Union Railway Budget 2010
• She comes up with a 10-year-plan, called 'Vision 2020'
• Budget for the people, of the people and by the people
• Social responsibility top consideration
• Corporate Firms must join the Railways
• It's time for private partnership in Railways
• But there will be no privatization of Railways

Infrastructure: 

• 1000-km new rail lines to be added each year
• 117 new trains to be flagged off within 7 months
• 54 more trains in 2011
• All proposals to be cleared in 100 days
• Special Task Force will be engaged to clear the proposals
• Railways open for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model
• Plan to raise Rs 10,000 cr - Rs 20,000 cr in 2010-11
• Better amenities to be given on all trains
• Special provisions for Women, Minorities, Old and Poor
• Six bottling plants to be set up to provide water supply to Railways - including Ambala, Farakka, Amethi Nashik
• E-ticketing mobile vans at Hospitals and Universities
• New Anti-collision Devices along 880 miles
• Better Traffic Signals
• 5 Sports Academies to be set up - Delhi, Kolkta, Secunderabad, Chennai, Mumbai

Security:

• No unmanned level crossing in the next 5 years
• 14,000 guards to be deployed at unmanned level crossings in the country
• New Women Action Force, called 'Mahila Vahini'
• Ex-Servicemen to be deployed for Railway security

 

New Schemes/Developments:

• Multi-level parking and cheap drinking water to all
• Railways to set up Tagore Museums
• 101 new suburban trains for Mumbai
• 80,000 new station wagons to be purchased
• 10 new Duronto Trains
• 10 New Auto Ancillary Hubs
• Rail Coach Factory at Rai Bareli
• 5 new Wagon Factories
• Gitanjali Rail Museum in Bolpur
• Ravindra Rail Museum in Howrah
• The vacant land in possession of Railways to be used
• National High Speed Rail Authority to be set up
• Western Corridor in Maharashtra
• Rail links with Bangladesh
• Chennai Coach Factory to be modernized
• Research Development Centre in Bangalore
• Sanskriti Express on Tagore's Birthday
• 16 Trains to connect Metro Cities
• Ahmedabad-Udhampur Janmabhoomi Express
• New Karmabhoomi Express Trains announced for Working Class
• 16 Bharat Teerth Express Trains to Pilgrimage Places
• Matrubhumi Women's Special Trains in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai

      

Most Populist Measures:

• Special Trains for 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi
• No hike in freight tariff
• New housing scheme for Railway staff
• 5 New Coach Factories to be set up
• Railway Research Centre in Kharagpur
• Private companies can run their own goods trains
• Technical Management Institutes to be set up
• Service Charge for AC Class reduced from Rs 40 to Rs 20 and in Sleeper Class, there will be a reduction by Rs 10
• Food Grain and Kerosene to be cheaper by Rs 100 per wagon
• 94 train routes to be expanded
• 50 Sishu Sadan for Women and Children
• Proposal to hold Railway Exams in local languages
• E-Ticket Counters at Panchayats
• Railways to be eco-friendly
• CFL lights in all Trains
• Rail Coach Factory in Singur, if West Bengal government gives land
• Cheaper food, drinking water for all passengers
• Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Residential Schools and Model Degree Colleges to be set up for Railway Employees
• 94 stations to be upgraded as Adarsh stations. 10 more stations will be upgraded as world class stations
• Coolies to get Health Insurance
• Job to one member from each family, if there is a land acquisition
• Free Travel for Cancer Patients in AC-3 and Sleeper Class Trains