Rail Budget 2013: All eyes on Railways Minister P K Bansal over passenger fare hike
is rife about announcement of 100 new trains including AC double deckers, extension and increase of some popular passenger services.
Though the Congress is opposing the Trinamool government in Bengal, MoS Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury might have his say with likely provisions for new trains including Berhampur-Sealdah passenger, a direct train for New Jalpaiguri from the capital and pantry cars for Bengal-bound trains.
While the focus of the Budget is on providing more amenities to rail users, Bansal will initiate certain steps to earn more revenue from the alternative sources such as commercial utilisation of surplus railway land, advertising and other sundry business.
Since high-speed train is the latest buzz in Railway Ministry, there will be a few proposals for it in the Budget.
Aiming to put rescue and restoration work on fast track, the Rail Budget 2013-14 is set to announce procurement of two high-speed self-propelled accident relief trains (SPART).
With a speed of 160 km/hr, the SPART will enable rescue equipment to reach the accident site faster and help speedy rescue and restoration work.
The Ministry is going ahead with the proposal for setting up Rs 1,000 crore MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) coach factory in Rajasthan to cater to the growing demand of faster local and suburban service.
Railways is likely to miss the revenue target of Rs 1.35 lakh crore for the current fiscal as the total earning for the 10 months from April, 2012, to January, 2013, has been Rs 1,01,223 crore, which means it needs to earn Rs 34,000 crore
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