Page 4 - Railway Budget

Letters: Ring in the new

The Centre's decision to scrap the colonial era practice of two Budgets, 92 years after it was introduced means goodbye to another British legacy.The Railway Budget is usually presented two days before the Union Budget. Though there will be no Railway Budget, the railway ministry will continue to have autonomy over fares, salaries, pension bill, tariff revision and market borrowing, enabling it to maintain its distinct identity.The move could be a game changer and save the government a lot of time, money and effort. Another colonial legacy, the prime minister's residential address, 7, Race Course Road, is also becoming history now, with the road set to be renamed as 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.N J Ravi Chander BengaluruLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll letters must have a postal address and telephone number

India to merge rail, general budgets; end non-plan, plan distinction

Officials said a better indicator of productive and general expenditure will be replacing the plan and non-plan distiction that has lost relevance post Planning Commission abolition

Rail Budget's 92-year-old journey set to end

Likely to be merged with Union Budget from FY18

Scrap separate Rly Budget

But speed up other railway reforms as well

Bibek Debroy: A 1924 legacy

There is an impression that private companies built railways under a guarantee system and this later changed to government ownership and operation of railways

Bibek Debroy makes case for scrapping separate railway budget

Debroy, however, dismissed reports that a new committee of NITI Aayog has made a similar recommendation

Railway expenses increase 19% on pay, pensions

Seventh Pay Commission to hit spending on infra development

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says her state was deprived in Railway Budget

Banerjee was the Railway minister between 2009 and 2011 during the UPA-2 regime

Railways to hit global markets via rupee bonds to fund capex

This would be the first time, that the Indian Railways will go to the international markets to fund its investment plans

Rail budget may hike passenger fares

The proposal is being considered against the backdrop of a decline in both passenger and freight earnings and the additional burden of Rs 32,000 cr towards implementing the 7th CPC recommendations

A fortnight before Budget, little recovery in Railways' finances

The second of a four-part series on core sector looks at the Indian Railways, which has few positives to show in its finances. Falling passenger volumes continue to dent operations, and the ambitious target of 85 mt additional freight loading during FY16 is unlikely to be met

4 more dedicated corridors for freight soon

Currently, Railways has undertaken Rs 81,459-crore projects to develop 3,342-km track, comprising Eastern and Western DFC

Railway Budget: More public cash eyed as turnaround remains elusive

Officials say raising freight tariffs significantly not on the cards, and a steep rise in passenger fares also unlikely

Saving before budget: Railways cuts down on use of A4 sheets

Information will be shared using Intranet, Internet and e-mail; the move will reduce needless use of paper