Mamata Banerjee announced today during the Railway Budget that 50 stations will be developed as world class stations in public private partnership and 375 stations as ‘Adarsh Stations’ with improved basic amenties. 

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Multi functional complexes with shopping facilities, food stalls, budget hotels  are to be constructed at 50 railway stations, which serve as centres of pilgrimage, tourist and industry.

The Railway budget has proposed premium freight service for container movement with assured transit time and a mega logistic hub alongside eastern and western dedicated freight corridors. Premium parcel services with guaranteed transit time on pilot basis will be introduced on three routes. During 2009-10, Railway would acquire 18,000 new wagons against 11,000 in 2008-09.

Special trains will ferry perishable agro products like fruits, vegetables and also village handicrafts, cottage industry and textile products from production clusters to consumer clusters. The Railways will set up a new coach factory at Kanchrapara-Halisahar and a 1000 Mw power plant at Adra, in collaboration with Ministry of Power.

The Budget has proposals for 7 new lines, Gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13  railway lines. In addition, proposals for 53 new lines, 3 gauge conversion and doubling of 12 lines will be processed during the year. The Railways will constitute a an expert committee headed by Sam Pitroda to suggest innovations to utilise optic fibre cable network of Railways and take information technology to remote areas.

Banerjee proposred an outlay of Rs 40,745 crore for 2009-10 is, of which Rs 2,921 crore will be spent on new lines, Rs 1,750 crore on gauge conversion and Rs 1,102 crore on passenger amenities. 

The proposed freight loading target of 882 million tonnes and estimated gross freight receipts at Rs 88,419 crore for 2009-10.

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