Current Affairs

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Focus and Long Term Goals1. Safety;2. Consolidation;3. Decongestion & Capacity Augmentation;4. Modernisation;5. Improve Operating Ratio from 95% to

74% in terminal year of 12th Five YearPlan.

Measures Proposed• Setting up of a Railway Safety Authority

as a statutory regulatory body asrecommended by Kakodkar Committee;

• Creating Missions as recommended byPitroda Committee to implement themodernization programme

• Aligning the Annual Plan investmentwith five focus areas identified byKakodkar and Pitroda Committees i.e. (a)Track (b) Bridges (c) Signalling &Telecommunication (d) Rolling Stockand (e) Stations & Freight Terminals.

•· New Board Member (Safety/Research) tobe inducted.

• Rail-Road Grade Separation Corporationto be set up to eliminate level crossings.

• Plan allocation to priority works so as toreap benefits after completion in a timebound manner

• Three ‘Safety Villages’ to be set up atBengaluru, Kharagpur and Lucknow forski ll development for disastermanagement;

Resource Mobilization• Indian Railway Station Development

Corporation to be set up to redevelopstations through PPP mode;

• Logistics Corporation to be set up fordevelopment & management of existingrailway goods sheds and multi-modallogistics parks.

• Private investment schemes for Wagonleasing, Sidings, Private FreightTerminals, Container train operations,Rail connectivity projects (R3i and R2C-i) being made more attractive to PPPpartners.

• New Board Member (PPP/Marketing) tobe inducted

Metropolitan Projects• Works announced for Kolkata Metro last

year progressing satisfactorily and someprojects being extended to cover newsections.

• SPV with Andhra Pradesh Governmentto be set up for commercial managementof the MMTS.

• MRVC to carry out feasibility study forconstruction of faster corridors on CSTM– Panvel and Virar-Vasai-Diva-Panvelsections.

• Work to be taken up facilitating runningof 12-car rakes on Harbour line.

• Financial modeling of the elevated railcorridor from Churchgate to Virar firmedup with Government of Maharashtrathrough PPP mode.

• A pre-feasibility survey for a similarcorridor between CST and Kalyanproposed.

• A National High Speed Rail Authority tobe set up.

• Pre-feasibility studies on six high speedcorridors already completed; study on

Railway Budget

Railway Budget

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Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur to be takenup in 2012-13.

Cooperation with State Governments• MoU signed with Government of

Chhatisgarh to develop three railcorridors in state for movement ofpassenger and freight.

• 31 projects covering a length of morethan 5000 km in 10 states beingexecuted with contribution from stategovernments.

• Four projects on cost sharing basis withGovernments of Haryana, AndhraPradesh & West Bengal proposed.

• 12 projects on cost sharing basis withGovernment of Karnataka, AndhraPradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand,Rajasthan & Maharashtra sent toPlanning Commission for approval.

• 17 projects to facilitate the first and listmile connectivity proactively sanctionedand another 28 projects identified.

Connectivity to Neighbouring Countries• Construction of Jogbani-Biratnagar and

Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas new linesalready in progress to provideconnectivity to Nepal.

• Project to connect Agartala with Akhaurain Bangladesh to be taken up in 2012-13.

Rail Based Industries• Rail Wheel Plan at Chhapra produced 78

wheels during 2011-12; the plant wouldbe fully commissioned in 2012-13.

• Rae Bareli coach factory manufactured10 coaches in 2011-12; phase-II of thefactory would be commissioned in 2012-13.

• Diesel Component Factory at Dankunihas commenced trial production andwould be fully commissioned in 2012-13.

• Wagon Manufacturing Factory at Kultiand fiat bogey frame unit at Budge Budgeto commence production in 2012-13.

• A wagon factory to be set up at Sitapali(Ganjam District of Odisha).

• A rail coach factory with the support ofGovernment of Kerala to be set up atPalakkad; two additional newmanufacturing units for coaches to beestablished in the Kutch area in Gujaratand at Kolar in Karnataka with activeparticipation of the State Governments.

• A plant for manufacture of tractionalternators for high horse power diesellocomotives to be set up at Vidisha inMadhya Pradesh.

• Setting up of a factory at Shyamnagar inWest Bengal to manufacture nextgeneration technology propulsionsystem for use in high power electriclocomotives.

• Augmenting the electric loco AncillariesUnit of CLW at Dankuni for fabricationof locomotive shells and assembly ofthree phase locomotives formanufacturing of new generation 9000HP locomotives.

• Sick wagon unit ‘Braithwaite’ taken overby Railways has been conferred withTurn Around Award by the Board ofReconstruction of Public SectorEnterprise.

Green Initiatives• Setting up of 72 MW capacity windmill

plants in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

• Setting up of 200 remote railway stationsas ‘green energy stations’ poweredentirely by solar energy.

• Providing solar lighting system at 1000manned level crossing gates.Introduction of mobile emission test carsto measure pollution level of diesellocomotives.

• Commissioning of two bio diesel plantsat Raipur and Tondiarpet.

• Introduction of a ‘Green Train’ to runthrough the pristine forests of NorthBengal.

• 2500 coaches to be equipped with biotoilets.

Current Affairs

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Passenger/Rail Users’ Amenities• Installation of 321 escalators at important

stations of which 50 will becommissioned in 2012-13.

• 12 State of art mechanized laundriesalready set up and 6 more to becomefunctional during 2012-13.

• SMS on passenger mobile phone in caseof e-ticket to be accepted as proof of validreservation.

• Introduction of regional cuisine ataffordable rates; launching of Book-ameal scheme to provide multiplechoice of meals through SMS or email.

• Setting up of AC Executive lounges atimportant stations.

• Setting up of new Rail Neer Plants atPalur in Tamil Nadu and Ambernath inMaharashtra.

• Expansion of housekeeping schemes fortrains.

•· Introduction of Rail Bandhu on-boardmagazines on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis andDuronto trains.

• Introduction of coin/currency operatedticket vending machines.

• Int roduction of Al ternate TrainAccommodation System toaccommodate waitlisted passengers onalternate trains.

• Introduction of model rake with worldclass interiors.

• Upgradation of 929 stations as AdarshStations including 84 stations proposedin 2012-13; 490 stations have beencompleted so far.

• Construction of mult i-functionalcomplexes at 24 locations completed.

• Sale of PRS tickets through 151 postoffices.

• Implementation of electronictransmission of RR for freight traffic.

• Introduction of satellite based real timetrain information system (SIMRAN) toprovide train running information topassengers through SMS, internet, etc.

• On board passenger displays indicating

next halt station and expected arrival timeto be introduced.

• Specially designed coaches for differently-abled persons to be provided in each Mail/Express trains.

• Engaging reputed professional agencies forpantry cars and base kitchens.

• Specialised House-keeping body to be setup for cleanliness of stations and thetrains.

• Dedicated Railway Design Centre to beset up in the National Institute of Design,Ahmedabad.

Coaching Terminals• Survey and feasiblity study for new

coaching terminals at Nemam,Kottayam, Mau and Dankuni to be takenup.

• Pre-feasibility study for development ofRoypuram station in Tamil Nadu forwhich many representations have beenreceived.

• New coaching complex at Panvel andcoach maintenance complex atKalamboli in partnership withGovernment of Maharashtra throughCIDCO planned.

• New coaching terminal at Naihati, thebirth place of Rishi Bankim ChandraChattopadhyay commemorating him on175th Birth Anniversary

Annual Plan 2012-13• Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 60,100 cr.• Gross Budgetary Support - Rs. 24,000 cr• Railway Safety Fund - Rs. 2,000 cr• Internal Resources - Rs. 18,050 cr.• Market Borrowing - Rs. 15,000 cr; PPP -

Rs. 1,050 cr.• 725 km new lines, 700 km doubling, 800

km gauge conversion and 1100 kmelectrification targeted in 2012-13.

• Rs. 6,872 cr provided for new lines, Rs.3,393 cr for doubling, Rs. 1,950 cr forgauge conversion, Rs. 828 cr forelectrification.

Railway Budget

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Financial Performance 2011-12• Loading target reduced by 23 MT to 970

MT.• Gross Traffic Receipts fixed at Rs.

1,03,917 cr in RE, short by Rs. 2,322 crover Budget Estimates.Ordinary Working Expenses fixed at Rs.75,650 cr, an increase of Rs. 2,000 crover Budget Estimates; Pensionpayments also up by Rs. 1,000 cr.

• Current dividend liability to be fullydischarged.

• Excess of Rs. 1,492 cr as against thebudget amount of Rs. 5,258 cr.

• A loan of Rs. 3,000 cr extended by MoFto meet requirement of safety relatedworks under Development Fund.

• Operating Ratio of 95.0% as comparedto 91.1% in Budget Estimates.

Budget Estimates 2012-13• Freight loading of 1025 MT, 55 MT more

than 2011-12.• Passenger growth - 5.4%.• Gross Traffic Receipts - Rs. 1,32,552 cr

i.e. 27.6% increase over RE, 2011-12• Ordinary Working Expenses - Rs. 84,400

cr.Appropriation to DRF at Rs. 9,500 cr andto Pension Fund at ‘18,500 cr.

• Dividend payment estimated at Rs.6,676 cr.

• Loan of Rs. 3,000 cr taken in 2011-12 tobe fully repaid along with interest.

• Operating Ratio estimated at 84.9%.

Security• Installation of Integrated Security System

at all 202 identified stations to becompleted in 2012-13.

• Escorting of trains by RPF/GRP extendedto 3500 trains.

• Integration of RPF helpline with the AllIndia Passenger Helpline.

Staff Welfare• Introduction of a wellness programme

for railway staff at their work places.

• Ensuring proper rest for skilled andtechnical staff including the runningcrew.

• NID to design appropriate outfits forvarious categories of workforce.

Training and Recruitment• Over 80000 persons recruited in 2011-

12;• Over one lakh persons to be recruited in

2012-13 - backlog of SC/ST/OBC andother categories to be wiped off.

Sports• 7 Railway sportsperson honored with

Arjuna Award and Major DhyanchandAward in 2011-12.

• 5 Railway sportsperson qualified forOlympics 2012.

• Development of a roadmap for railwaysports.

• Institution of ‘Rail Khel Ratna’ Award for10 rail sports-persons every year.

Concessions• Value of concession granted to travelers

is more than Rs. 800 cr per year.• 50% concession in fare in AC-2, AC-3,

Chair Car & Sleeper classes to patientssuffering from ‘Aplastic Anaemia’ and‘Sickle Cell Anaemia’.

• Extending the facility of travel byRajdhani and Shatabdi trains to ArjunaAwardees.

• Travel distance under ‘Izzat Scheme’ toincrease from 100 kms to 150 kms.

Suburban Services75 additional services to run in Mumbaisuburban.

• 18 additional services to be run inChennai area.

• 44 new suburban services to beintroduced in Kolkata area.

• 50 new services to be introduced inKolkata Metro in 2012-13.

Trains• 75 new Express trains to be introduced.

Current Affairs

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• 21 new passenger services, 9 DEMUservices and 8 MEMU services to beintroduced.

• Run of 39 trains to be extended.• Frequency of 23 trains to be increased.

Tariff Proposals• Setting up of Railway Tariff Regulatory

Authority to be considered;• Passenger fares increased by 2 paise per

km for suburban and ordinary second

class; 3 paise per km for mail/expresssecond class; 5 paise per km for sleeperclass; 10 paise per km for AC Chair Car,AC 3 tier and First Class; 15 paise per kmfor AC 2 tier and 30 paise per km for ACI.

• Fares to be rounded off to the nextnearest five rupees.

• Minimum fare and platform tickets tocost Rs. 5.

• Fuel Adjustment Component (FAC) infares contemplated.

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