Page 19 - Union Budget 2016

Some steps for falling freight traffic in Rail Budget 2016

Four measures have been announced, which include expanding of the items, rationalising of rates, signing of long-term contracts and building terminal capacity

One focus was to cut dependence on gross budgetary support: A K Mital & S Mookerjee

Interview with Railway Board Chairman & Financial Commissioner

Fall in freight traffic has caused severe problems: Suresh Prabhu

Interview with Railway Minister

Rail Budget 2016: In a nutshell

FOCUS AREAS: Passenger earnings growth pegged at 12.4%; earnings target at Rs 51,012 crore. Additional berths, women- & children-friendly coaches, bio-toilets, long-route trains for unreserved passengers; elevated sub-urban corridors and new freight corridors. Institutional funding, PPPs, freight revenue to push investment, make the Railways self-sustainableNO NEW TRAINS: No new trains or routes announced; no increase in faresNEW INITIATIVES: Broad-gauge lines in Mizoram, Manipur soon; port, rail connectivity; human resources/skilling, social initiatives and environment get importance; 7 missions for railway transformation; Humsafar, Tejas, UDAY special trains for reserved passengers; e-tendering across the boardPLAN OUTLAY: Highest annual Plan outlay of Rs 1.21 lakh cr for FY17 - Rs 21,000 cr higher than FY16 - funded via extra-budgetary sources like JVs with states, developing new frameworks for PPP, and institutional funding; GBS for FY17 pegged at Rs 40,000 cr, same as FY16FUND

Rail Budget 2016: Prabhu gambles on growth

Operating ratio to worsen to 92%, surplus to fall by a quarter; Depreciation provisioning dips 42% to Rs 3,200 cr; freight, Fares spared; tariff structure to be rationalised, plan outlay up 21%

Rail Budget 2016: Optional travel insurance may offer personal accident cover, theft cover

In the cover that will be offered, it is anticipated that personal accident will be a big element

Rail Budget 2016 is a balance between growth, operation efficiency, says India Inc

Hails he new freight corridors, direct long term freight negotiations with key partners

Passenger amenities: Prabhu taps technology to make travel comfortable, safe

Coaches would have LED boards, FM radio, water-level indicators; third-party audit of catering services to be made mandatory

Taking a different course: Vivek Sahai

Says the rail minister has realised that without healthy growth in freight traffic, shoring up finances is well-nigh impossible

India's first proposed rail auto hub near Chennai to help OEMs to save 20-25 % logistics cost

Facility will allow free movement from factories to the port

Rail Budget 2016: Operating surplus to fall 26% in FY17

Dividend payment to govt would be higher at Rs 9,731 cr in 2016-17

PPP Projects: Private participation to help meet rise in capital expenditure

Model to be used to finance port connectivity project

Rail Budget: Tall targets, execution holds the key

With no increase in fares, railways needs to find innovative methods to meet its FY17 revenue target of Rs 1,84,820 cr

Nitin Desai: Facing the demand slowdown

The Budget must deal with how to revive the domestic economy in a world where slow growth may become the norm

Railways' tough times

Slow progress on reforms in Rail Budget

Railways to use drone, satellite techno to monitor projects

Railways will rely on technological solutions for project management and monitoring

Rail Budget 2016: Better connectivity to northeast topmost priority, says Suresh Prabhu

In his Budget speech, Prabhu said that Railways has opened the long-awaited Lumding-Silchar broad gauge section in Assam

Rail Budget 2016: Patnaik lauds enhanced allocation for Odisha

Rues lack of announcement for a mass rapid transit system for Bhubaneswar

Rail Budget 2016: Suresh Prabhu announces 7 new missions

Under Mission Raftaar, Prabhu said the railways would target 'doubling average speeds of freights trains and increasing the average speed of superfast mail/express trains by 25 kmph in the next 5 years'

Nitish Kumar describes Railway Budget as 'disappointing'

'With the decline in international oil prices, they should have actually lowered the train fare,' Nitish said