New Delhi:
Common Man, Investment, Safety. No hike in fares and freight as expected, sops for Bengal in election year, some temper at being heckled. Business as usual as Mamata Banerjee presented her Railway Budget 2010. (Read: ALL HIGHLIGHTS)
But there were flashes of the new. Mamata Banerjee emphatically said, "No privatisation of the Railways," but also talked about an atmosphere and internal situation that encourages investors; new business models and importantly, public-private partnership.
Also a task force to ensure there is no red tape in clearing investment proposals, and cutting-edge technology for safety measures.
So saying, the populist measures. Importantly, no changes in passenger fares or freight rates, in fact a cut of Rs 100 per wagon on food grain and kerosene. Service tax cut on sleeper class (Rs 10) and AC class (Rs 20). The Railways will run 101 new suburban trains in Mumbai, 54 new trains around India. The route for 21 trains will be extended. (Read: No hike in fares, freight charges)
There will be special trains for women, special trains for work force.
Under attack for frequent accidents and law and order problems on trains, Mamata's Budget has promised that there shall be no unmanned Railway crossings in 5 years and provides for new anti-collision devices and better signaling systems.
But while the minister accepted that security is an issue, she pointed out that law and order is a state subject. "We have lost revenue, passengers suffered, states must take responsibility." She will set up special women battalions in the Railway Protection Force and said ex-servicemen will be employed to bolster rail security.
Other people-focused proposals are: Six new bottling plants to supply cheap and clean drinking water to the Railways; Five sporting academies in Delhi, Secunderabad and Chennai to support sports, special trains for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, benefits for women and minorities and e-tickets at mobile vans, government hospitals and IITs, IIMs, other universities. (Read: Mamata has Sonia in splits)
Her speech began on a note of social responsibility, which she said was her priority as she introduced her Vision 2020 and its short, medium and long term goals. She lamented the slow growth of new rail lines pointing out that 53,596 km of rail coverage in 1950 had gone up only to 64,015 km now, an average growth of 180 km a year. "We have to move faster", she said. For that the ministry needed money.
Mamata said the Railways would not be privatized, but added that it needed a new business model and invited domestic investment, saying a partnership with private players was very necessary.
She said she planned to raise Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 crore in the next year, set up 1000 km on new railway lines every year and set up a task force to clear investment proposals in 100 days.
For the financial year 2011, the minister projected an annual planned investment of Rs 41,426 crore for the Railways. She pegged the Railways' dividend payout to the exchequer at Rs 6,608 crore and freight loading target at 944 metric tonnes. Gross traffic receipts were projected at Rs 94,800 crore. (Read: Railways have earned net profit of Rs 1,328 cr)
She pointed out that in FY 2009-10 the Railways surpassed its freight target of 882 million tones.
Mamata pointed out that she has received upwards of 5000 requests and though not all can be met, "it is better to do little than not at all." She did say she looked at every request "point-to-point."
Through some heckling the minister was at pains to point out that she was announcing all-India schemes not just for West Bengal. She did announce a new train between Bangladesh and India and museums in honour of poet Rabindranath Tagore, explaining he had penned the national anthems of both nations. A Bharatpeeth train will run to all metros. (Read: I am also human: Mamata Banerjee )
Mamata has dedicated the budget to the "commom man". Her words as she got into her car to leave for Parliament, seemed to sum up what she had in store: "Railways is always for the people, by the people, of the people."
Forum: Are you happy with the Rail Budget?
But there were flashes of the new. Mamata Banerjee emphatically said, "No privatisation of the Railways," but also talked about an atmosphere and internal situation that encourages investors; new business models and importantly, public-private partnership.
Also a task force to ensure there is no red tape in clearing investment proposals, and cutting-edge technology for safety measures.
So saying, the populist measures. Importantly, no changes in passenger fares or freight rates, in fact a cut of Rs 100 per wagon on food grain and kerosene. Service tax cut on sleeper class (Rs 10) and AC class (Rs 20). The Railways will run 101 new suburban trains in Mumbai, 54 new trains around India. The route for 21 trains will be extended. (Read: No hike in fares, freight charges)
There will be special trains for women, special trains for work force.
Under attack for frequent accidents and law and order problems on trains, Mamata's Budget has promised that there shall be no unmanned Railway crossings in 5 years and provides for new anti-collision devices and better signaling systems.
But while the minister accepted that security is an issue, she pointed out that law and order is a state subject. "We have lost revenue, passengers suffered, states must take responsibility." She will set up special women battalions in the Railway Protection Force and said ex-servicemen will be employed to bolster rail security.
Other people-focused proposals are: Six new bottling plants to supply cheap and clean drinking water to the Railways; Five sporting academies in Delhi, Secunderabad and Chennai to support sports, special trains for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, benefits for women and minorities and e-tickets at mobile vans, government hospitals and IITs, IIMs, other universities. (Read: Mamata has Sonia in splits)
Her speech began on a note of social responsibility, which she said was her priority as she introduced her Vision 2020 and its short, medium and long term goals. She lamented the slow growth of new rail lines pointing out that 53,596 km of rail coverage in 1950 had gone up only to 64,015 km now, an average growth of 180 km a year. "We have to move faster", she said. For that the ministry needed money.
Mamata said the Railways would not be privatized, but added that it needed a new business model and invited domestic investment, saying a partnership with private players was very necessary.
She said she planned to raise Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 crore in the next year, set up 1000 km on new railway lines every year and set up a task force to clear investment proposals in 100 days.
For the financial year 2011, the minister projected an annual planned investment of Rs 41,426 crore for the Railways. She pegged the Railways' dividend payout to the exchequer at Rs 6,608 crore and freight loading target at 944 metric tonnes. Gross traffic receipts were projected at Rs 94,800 crore. (Read: Railways have earned net profit of Rs 1,328 cr)
She pointed out that in FY 2009-10 the Railways surpassed its freight target of 882 million tones.
Mamata pointed out that she has received upwards of 5000 requests and though not all can be met, "it is better to do little than not at all." She did say she looked at every request "point-to-point."
Through some heckling the minister was at pains to point out that she was announcing all-India schemes not just for West Bengal. She did announce a new train between Bangladesh and India and museums in honour of poet Rabindranath Tagore, explaining he had penned the national anthems of both nations. A Bharatpeeth train will run to all metros. (Read: I am also human: Mamata Banerjee )
Mamata has dedicated the budget to the "commom man". Her words as she got into her car to leave for Parliament, seemed to sum up what she had in store: "Railways is always for the people, by the people, of the people."
Forum: Are you happy with the Rail Budget?
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