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Railway Budget 2005-2006 Highlights

1. No rise in Freight rates, passenger fares.
2. 46 new trains announced.
3. Freight for Kerosene, LPG to be cut 3.7 percent and 2.7 percent respectively.
4. No hike in parcel rates.
5. Reservation counters to remain open from 4 am till 11.30 pm.
6. Spot booking of vacant berths to be allowed.
7. Internet ticket booking timing to be extended.
8. 152 new reservation counters to be opened.
9. Phonelines to rail service to be made available in villages.
10. Railways currently run 9000 trains.
11. Freight growth surpasses growth of economy.
12. Laloo sees Railway revenues steady in FY06.
13. Railways have doubled collection of arrears this year.
14. Revenue to be steady in FY 06.
15. Revenue till Dec 04 up by 8.3 percent.
16. 7.67 percent increase in freight Vs last year.
17. To make goods tariff rational and transparent.
18. Passenger segment growth pegged at 6 percent.
19. Operating cost up by Rs 400 crore.
20. Modernisation to cost Rs 24000 cr.
21. 4.30 cr tonne additional freight target.
22. Goods earning seen 304 billion rupee vs 287 bln target
23. Railways to carry 43 MT freight.
24. Freight revenues expected to increase by Rs 4.3 crore.
25. To carry 600 mn tones freight in FY05 vs 580 million target.
26. Dividend liability for FY06 36.4 bn rupees.
27. IRFC to borrow 34 billion rupees in FY-06.
28. Schemes with Pvt sector planned to up rail revenues.
29. Indian Railway Finance Market borrowing next FY INR 34 billion.
30. To carry 635 mln tones freight in FY-06.
31. Private placement of cumulative redeemable preference shares.
32. Scrap sale to be made more transparent.
33. Net FY-06 budgetary support seen at 38.21 billion rupees.
34. Rs 6345 cr of Railway Safety Fund to be spend in FY-05.
35. Petrol freight seen lower on new classification.
36. Crude oil freight seen higher on new classification.
37. To upgrade railway enquiry services.
38. Computerized train enquiry system proposed.
39. New Delhi Railway Station to be made modern world class station.
40. Rail land near major stations to be commercially developed, food plazas to come up.
41. Integrated modernization plan to be implemented.
42. Five new concrete sleeper plans.
43. Norms eased for engine-on-load scheme.
44. To increase optical fibre network to 40,000 km by FY08.
45. To expand optical fibre network to 1650 cities.
46. To add 1692 km of broad-gauge lines.
47. To undertake survey of 31 new lines by FY06.
48. To look at companies other than Concor for container traffic.
49. To do acturial assessment of future pension liability.
50. Double decker containers proposed.
51. To introduce aluminiun containers to increase capacity.
52. Warning system on 280 km of rail route by FY 06.
53. To boost powers of Rail Protection Police by July.
54. 411 railway bridges expected to be renovated in FY05.
55. Plans wagon investment scheme for guaranteed rakes.
56. Plans to make goods train travel at 100 km/hr.
57. Corporate welfare plan for rail workers proposed.
58. Re-look at trains with low trafficontainers to be given on lease to courier companies.
59. Doubling of 538 kms of line.
60. First collision proof line to be ready this year.
61. Low traffic routes to be rationalized.
62. To study rail passenger capacity utilization.
63. May divert unused passenger capacity to other areas.
64. MoU with Central Warehousing Corporation.
65. Plans 12 new plants to manufacture sleepersFreight based on wagon carrying capacity.
66. To allocate 2.75 billion rupees for Metro Rail Project.
67. Doubling of tracks on 538 kms targeted in FY-06.
68. Freight on sponge iron on new classification.
69. Rural school children to be given 75 percent discount in second class
70. Farmers, milkmen to be given 50 percent discount.
71. Unemployed population to be given free travel for state govt interviews.
72. 75 percent discount for study tour per year.
73. 25 percent reservation for weaker sections to start book stalls
74. Fare benefit for farmers travelling for trainingNew premium registration schemes for freight customers (ANI)