Live: Rail Budget 2015

• Fast track highest priority works. Investment 84 pc higher; 77 new projects - Doubling, tripling/quadrupling/ electrification
• Rs 120 crore provided for lifts and escalators to facilitate movements
• Collaboration with NIFT and NID for better bed rolls, inner coach designs
• In 400 stations wi-fi facility will be provided
• Satellite railway terminals in major cities - 10 select stations
• The key objective of the action plan for transformation of Railways is to significantly expand our network capacity: Suresh Prabhu
• Railway caters to all sections of society, specially poor, we are attempting redevelopment of stations: Suresh Prabhu
• 67 per cent more funds allotted for passenger amenities
• Suresh Prabhu congratulates 2 MPs who had used MP lad in the last fiscal year for improvement in Railways
• I request MPs to use part of their MP lad to improve facilities: Suresh Prabhu
• We will introduce train sets saving 20 per cent journey time, similar to bullet trains in design, can run on existing tracks: Suresh Prabhu
• We will also be providing facility of online booking of wheelchair for senior citizens: Suresh Prabhu
• 24 to 26 coaches in certain identified trains, more general class coaches, ladders to be replaced
• Modern facilities for disabled citizens, senior citizens, patients through IRCTC: Suresh Prabhu 
• Surveillance cameras on select mainline and ladies compartments: Suresh Prabhu
• We will be initiating an SMS alert service to inform passengers about arrival & departure of the trains: Suresh Prabhu
• SMS alert on mobile, customer portal promoting digital India campaign
• To provide freedom to our valued passengers to choose their meals, e-catering has been introduce in 108 trains: Suresh Prabhu
• Introduction of integrated ticketing will be done, a defence travel system has been developed to make travel easier: Suresh Prabhu
• A mobile application to address complaints of people is also being developed: Suresh Prabhu
• Introducing Operation 5 mins, wherein passengers travellling unreserved can purchase a ticket in 5 minutes: Suresh Prabhu
• Railways would utilize the Nirbhaya fund for augmenting safer travel for women: Suresh Prabhu
• We will increase number of mechanised laundry, an All India 24-7 helpline number will become operational: Suresh Prabhu
• This year alone we intend to replace 17000 more toilets by Bio-Toilets: Suresh Prabhu
• Cleanliness in Railways highest priority for us, we now work on Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat: Suresh Prabhu
• I'm proposing to undertake bringing transparency in day to day activities, for the benefit of common man: Suresh Prabhu
• Have not increased the passengers fares: Suresh Prabhu
• The functioning of Railways must conform to highest standards of governance & transparency: Suresh Prabhu
• Our people are our biggest asset, I have seen enthusiasm of Railway personnel throughout the country: Suresh Prabhu
• We'll be revamping management practices, processes and procedures: Suresh Prabhu
• Indian Railways will continue to serve common man, people of India will own Railways always: Suresh Prabhu
• Railway continue to be our precious national asset: Suresh Prabhu
• Modernize infrastructure, make Indian Railways financially self-sustainable: Suresh Prabhu
• Objective is to make Bhartiya Rail financially sustainable: Suresh Prabhu
• These objectives will ensure Railway is an integral part of flagship programs launched by PM: Suresh Prabhu
• Goal one - to ensure good customer experience to receive a huge boost: Suresh Prabhu
• We have fixed goals for ourselves, make Rail a safer means of travel: Suresh Prabhu
• Over the next 5 years Railways has to go through a transformation: Suresh Prabhu
• We must restore the strength of Bharatiya Railway as the backbone of India: Suresh Prabhu
• 492 section of Railways are running at a capacity of more than 100 per cent; 228 running between 80-100 per cent: Suresh Prabhu
• Our priority will be to significantly improve high density networks of Indian Railways: Suresh Prabhu
• Chronic under-investment has led to poor development of Indian Railways: Suresh Prabhu
• Is it surprising that the Rajdhani and Shatabdi can run at 130Km/Hr but actually run at 70Km/Hr: Suresh Prabhu
• Investment in Indian Railways is necessary for environment sustainability and well being of future generations: Suresh Prabhu
• Express gratitude to PM Narendra Modi to serve the people of India through the Ministry of Railways: Suresh Prabhu
• I thank PM Modi for infusing all Indians with a sense of pride and dream of prosperous nation: Suresh Prabhu

12:10 pm: Suresh Prabhu presents Rail Budget in Lok Sabha

11:40 am: Suresh Prabhu reaches Parliament

11:25 am: Suresh Prabhu leaves for Parliament

11:20 am: Suresh Prabhu will present a good budget and try to live upto people aspirations: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

11:15 am: Suresh Prabhu reaches Rail Bhawan

11:00 am: Budget will be as per people expectations: Suresh Prabhu

10:50 am: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu leaves for Rail Bhawan

10:30 am: Hopes of bullet trains & golden quadrilateral were raised, but didn't find any refraction on ground: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former MoS Railway

10:00 am: There is a need to strengthen foundation of railways first, improvement of facilities: Dinesh Trivedi, Former Railways Minister

09:50 am: Copies of Rail Budget 2015-16 brought to Parliament

09:30 am: Common man will be given prime importance, Rai Budget will be as per their expectations: Manoj Sinha, MoS Railway

09:20 am: Expansion & modernization of Indian Rail network on board. Complete road map will be presented in the Budget. Will bring smile to everyone's face, all issues will be addressed: Manoj Sinha, MoS Railway

08:00 am: Emphasize should be laid on signaling so existing lines can used for running more trains: Former Railway Minister Pawan Bansal

Indian Railways has one of the largest railway networks of the world and is the largest employer in the country. Every year, a Railway budget, separate from the union budget is presented in the parliament few days before the main budget.

A separate budget for rail started in 1924 during the British rule. Railway was considered a great asset of that time so a separate budget made. As the Indian economy grew exponentially, the Rail Budget seemed quite smaller than the main budget. But the government has not yet abolished the separate budget for Railway.