Following are the highlights of the Indian Railway Budget for 2008-09 presented by the Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Passenger fares reduction
- One rupee discount per passenger for fares up to Rs.50 in non suburban Second Class (ordinary and mail/express)
- 5% discount across the board for passenger fares beyond Rs.50 for all non suburban Second Class (ordinary and mail/express).
- Increase in discount for travel in new design high capacity reserved coaches.
- Reduction in fare – AC-I : 7%; and AC-II : 4% (the reduction will be half for popular trains and during peak period).
Ticketing Improvements
- Termination of queues at ticket counters targeted in two years.
- Ticket booking on mobile phones; E-ticket for wait listed passengers.
- Increase in Unreserved Ticketing Systems counters to 15,000 and ATVMs to 6000.
Concessions for passengers
- Senior citizen concession for women enhanced to 50% from existing 30%.
- Free Monthly Seasonal Ticket to girl students up to graduation level in place of 12th standard and for boys up to 12th standard in place of 10th standard.
Trains
- 10 new Garib Raths to be introduced.
- 53 pairs of new trains.
- Extension of trains : 16 pairs.
- Increase in frequency : 11 pairs.
- 300 additional services in Mumbai suburban.Passenger Services: Amenities
- Special train from Anandpur Sahib and Patna Sahib to Gurudwara Sachkhand Sahib during tercentenary function of Shri Guru Granth Sahib of Gurta Gaddi.
- Special train between Pune and Delhi for Commonwealth Youth Games being held in Pune from 12th-18th October this year.
New Amenities
- Provision of on-line coach indication display board; on-line train arrival departure information board; on-line reservation availability information board.
- Provision of discharge-free green toilets in all 36,000 coaches in XI Plan period at a cost of about Rs.4,000 cr.
- LHB design coaches for all Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains over next few years.
Provision of LHB coaches with stainless steel bogies in Mail/Express trains.
it’s a excellent budget
While appreciating the RM for his efforts to please all, it is rather disappointing that he ignored the cause of the senior male citizens. While femal SC has given 50% concession, the senior males have been neglected. this discrimination is bad in taste.
It is therefore for consideration that the 50% concession be uniformaly be given to both male and female sr ctzns.
I hoe he will do justice by agreeing for this small favour by the old guards.
for girl student railway ticket is free,upto graduation.is it also available for express train,or only for locals?
A good budget.
Passenger fares reduction :
One rupee discount per passenger for fares up to Rs.50 in non suburban Second Class (ordinary and mail/express)
5% discount across the board for passenger fares beyond Rs.50 for all non suburban Second Class (ordinary and mail/express).
Increase in discount for travel in new design high capacity reserved coaches.
Reduction in fare – AC-I : 7%; and AC-II : 4% (the reduction will be half for popular trains and during peak period).
Concessions for passengers :
Senior citizen concession for women enhanced to 50% from existing 30%.
Free Monthly Seasonal Ticket to girl students up to graduation level in place of 12th standard and for boys up to 12th standard in place of 10th standard.
Durga Prasad
i am very happy to receive very good and excellent railway budget 2008-09 and i hope i do expect same union railway minister and better than present budget as well as very good union budget too.
MY HOPES ARE HIGH AS HIGH AS SKY BUT WHEN I RECEIVED TODAY VERY GOOD AND APPRECIABLE RAILWAY BUDGET 2008-09 AND ALSO EXPECT BETTER UNION BUDGET I SUPPORT PRESENT GOVT.UNDER LEADERSHIP OF HONRABLE DR. MANMOHAN SINGH .I WISH HIM EARLY RECOVERY AND BEST OF LUCK