Live: Rail Budget 2015

Suresh Prabhu proposes no increase in passenger fares

New Delhi: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is presenting the first Rail Budget of Narendra Modi government right now in Lok Sabha.

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Prabhu proposed no increase in passenger fares. The government had hiked passenger fare by 14.2 per cent and fright price by 6.5 per cent before the Budget last year.

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Below are the live updates of the Rail Budget:

• 'Take up 1 idea, make that idea of life-think of it, dream of it, live on that idea' with these words Suresh Prabhu concludes his Rail Budget 2015 speech
• We will fulfill PM's vision for Railways, 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat': Suresh Prabhu
• Skill development and self employment to be encouraged on Konkan Ralways model: Suresh Prabhu
• A mechanism for making regulations, setting performance standards and tariffs to be setup: Suresh Prabhu
• Investment in Indian Railways is an investment in our future, sustainability and posterity: Suresh Prabhu
• 100 DEMUs to be converted to dual fuels
• Land and on Railways Building at own cost: Suresh Prabhu
• Corruption at all levels is affecting common man, we are working on solution to address this menace: Suresh Prabhu
• We have launched a mission for water conservation, expansion of water harvesting systems will continue: Suresh Prabhu
• Full fledged university during 2015-16
• We have set up an environment directive in Railway Board: Suresh Prabhu
• We are launching a coastal connectivity programme this year. Rs 2000 cr for Coastal Connectivity Program; Rs 2500 cr through BOT/Annuity route. 1000 MWSolar plant; 100DEMUs to dual fuel: Suresh Prabhu: Suresh Prabhu
• Encroachment on Railway land a serious issue, digitized mapping of land has been initiated to counter this: Suresh Prabhu
• We will monetize our assets rather than selling them: Suresh Prabhu
• Plan size increased by 52%; 41.6% GBS; 17.8% internal generation: Suresh Prabhu
• We propose to get a system audit conducted for all Railways in next 2 months: Suresh Prabhu
• Process & procedures simplified to prevent delays; internal audit of Railway systems
• Decentralise, deregulate and delegate to make freight business simpler
• We propose to launch foreign Rail technology cooperation scheme: Suresh Prabhu
• Joint venture with major public sector companies for meeting requirements of new lines
• Framework to facilitate pvt investment has been readied; MUTP-III, joint venture with states, PSUs
• Malaviya Chair at IIT/BHU for Railway technology
• ‘Kayakalp' to help in Technology Upgradation
• We intend to introduce technology portal to invite innovative technological solutions: Suresh Prabhu
• I offer my deepest condolences to families of all accident victims and railway personnel who lost their lives: Suresh Prabhu
• To prevent fire in coaches,we'll install train protection warning system and train collision avoiding system: Suresh Prabhu
• Rs 6,750 crore allocated for eliminating 3438 level crossings; 970 road-underbridge and road-overbridge to be constructed
• Feasibility report of high speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad expected by mid-2015
• Four dedicated freight corridors to be completed this year; 6608 kms of track to be electrified
• Projects worth Rs 96,182 crore to expand capacity of 9,420 km rail lines
• Rail-cum-road ticket to be extended to many stations; more trains to be added under scheme for ordering food while booking tickets
• A new helpline number 182 for passengers to provide urgent help in case they face any danger
• Railway helpline number 138 will become operational 24x7
• Safety is of paramount importance: Suresh Prabhu
• For high-speed trains on other routes on the diamond quadrilateral studies being commisioned, are working on it
• The transformation of Railways have huge opportunities for 'Make In India' campaign: Suresh Prabhu
• The average speed of freight trains both in empty and filled condition will be enhanced
• Construction of long loop lines will be expedited
• Speedier Railway - 9 hi-speed corridors, high speed trains
• The advance booking period for train tickets will be four months
• Private freight terminals reviewing of WLS, SFTO, PFT schemes under process; automatic freight rebate system launched and to be expanded
• State of the art perishable cargo center under completion for farmers
• 1330 pc increase in railway electrification over previous year
• Railway connectivity for North Eastern State and J&K - ongoing process major thrust
• Debottlenecking – traffic facility works - 100 pc more funds allocated