Railway minister Mamata Banerjee today announced rail budget which almost meets public expectation which include cheap tickets for the poor and no increase in freight or passenger fares, as well as steps to boost the sprawling system’s efficiency and finances. 

Friday’s railway budget speech underscored the Congress-led government’s focus on “comprehensive growth” after it was reelected by a wider-than-expected margin in May. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government will present its budget on Monday. “The old mindset of economic viability should be substituted by social viability,” Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee said in an address to parliament.

Over the five years through March 2009, Railways generated a cash surplus of about $18.8 billion.  

Railway Budget 2009-10: Key Highlights:

• No change in passenger fare and freight tariff
• Plan outlay of Rs 40,745 cr. Proposed for 2009-10
• Special trains for perishable farm produce, facilities for transportation of rural craft
• Works for 7 new lines,  gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13 lines to be taken up
• Faster parcel services proposed on three routs
• Tatkal fares reduced by Rs 50 to Rs 100
• Railway tickets to be made available through post offices and ‘mushkil aasaan’  mobile vans
• Concession for press persons increased to 50%
• Monthly ticket of Rs 25 for unorganized sector/poor under ‘izzat’ scheme
• “Only ladies’ emu trains at delhi, kolkata and Chennai
• ‘Yuva trains’ from rural hinterland to metros at concessional fare
• 12 new point-to-point ‘turanto’ trains
• 57 new trains, extension of 27 trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains and air-conditioned double-decker trains proposed
• 50 stations to be upgraded to world class stations
• Long distance trains to have on-board doctors and infotainment services
• Handicapped and aged persons to have more amenities
• Special trains to ferry perishable agro products and rural handicrafts
• Special fund for the development of north east railway
• Quazigund-anantnag line to be completed by next month
• Plans to acquire 18,000 wagons in FY10
• Railways to come out with while paper on financial status and vision-2020 document

Effect of Budget on Railway Stocks: