Rail Budget 2009 - Mamta Banerjee

• Mamta Bonanza: No change in Passenger Fares.
• Freight Rates untouched.
• One Doctor to be available on long distance trains to attend to passenger/staff medical emergencies.
• Ticket booking services to open in 800 new locations.
• 5000 Post Offices pan India to provide Railway ticket booking facility.
• 'Turant AC' sleeper trains to be introduced between major metros.
• Rs 1750 crore to be spent on Gauge conversion.
• Students to receive a 60% concession on train tickets.
• Non-stop trains to be operational soon on select routes.
• 50 Railway Stations are to be built at par with the international standards.
• Extension of 'Ladies Special' trains to major metros like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai.
• 50% concession for Scribes.
• Rs 81685 crore to be the estimated working expenditure.
• Kachrapara, Bengal to get new coach factory.
• Scholarship schemes for Girl child of Group B Railway employees.
• Women commandos to be increased in key routes.
• Passengers who are physically challenged will be accommodated in specially designed coaches.
• Increase in utility stores such as PCO/STD/ISD booths and book stores.
• Increased emphasis on security (platform and train).
• Catering facilities to be upgraded in order to address growing number of passenger complaints/feedback.
• SMS updates for waiting list status.
• Tatkal booking scheme reduced from 5 days to 2 days.
• Setting up of ATMs on 200 stations identified.
• High capacity double decker AC trains to be introduced on select routes.
• Railways will no longer be guided by economic viability but social commitment said Mamta Banerjee.
• Facilities for cold storage to be developed for farmers who store vegetables and fruits.
• New Hospitals to be opened up for Hospital Staff.
• Indian Railways to lease out land for commercial purposes to increase revenue.