Laloo Prasad Yadav presented the Railways Budget Report

Railways Minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav presented the Railways Budget Report before the Parliament today; his last full Budget for this UPA Government.
According to the Report, the Railways have a cash surplus of Rs 25000 crore in FY08. Its operating ratio is at 76%. Its work force stood at 14 lakh workers in FY08. The Minister informed that reduced fares increased volumes and profits.
Some highlights of the Railway Minister's speech:
Rs 68788 cr for 5 years cash surplus
Dividend of Rs 88 rupees
There were lean season discounts offered
Peak season attracted surcharges
Railway Fund Balance up at Rs 20,480 cr
Railways adopted tariff to up market share; revenue
Apr-Dec freight loading revenue is up 8-10% at Rs 34,700 cr
Railways will look at leveraging telecom boom for ticketing
There will be an increase in ticketing counters to 15,000 in 2 years from the current 3,000 now
Revenue from passenger fares increased by 14%
FY09 freight loading seen at 790 MT vs 785 MT in FY08
FY08 rail operating ratio at 76.3%
Trials for mobile ticketing have already started
Railways to launch the Go-Mumbai Card/ Smart Card
Online information display in overnight trains of long distance
Rs 4000 cr to be spent on 36000 coaches for greent toilets in next 5 year plan
Low mainenance and more comfortable stainless steel coaches to be introduced from 2010
To have online control of trains in 2 years
To link trains via software communication by 2009
New coaches in all Rajdhani trains by 2010-11
To start making steel coaches from FY09
Level of Platforms to be upgraded for passenger convenience
30 Bigger stations to have multi level parking system
50 large stations to have lifts / escalators- for convenience of senior citizens
233 million ton loading was done in the year
Additional earnings of Rs 2000 cr on freight service
To upgrade infrastructure in 7 years at Rs 75,000 cr
310 mn tonnes of additional freight loading in the next 3 yrs
75000 cr in next 7 yrs to further develop saturated transportation lines
To up auto ticket sale machines to 6,000 in 2 years
Plan to set up 20,000 km high density network
FY08 coal freight loading seen at 336 MT
Work on connecting road for Pipavav Port completed
25 tonne and 30 tonne axel load trains allowed for iron ore transport
100 mn tonne business from cement industry
200 mn target targeted till 2011
50 new terminals to be developed for storage
SPV for links to Mundra, Kandla, Krishnapatnam ports
25-30 tonne axle load trains to be started
Annual steel traffic aim of 200 mt in 2011 vs 120 mt now
To manufacture 20000 wagons in 2008-09
To manufacture wagons having capacity of 22.9 tonnes in 2008-09
50 big terminals planned in Mumbai, Pune, Ghaziabad
Concor to set up 8 depots
Wagons would be available on lease here on
Have 15 licensed operators for container trains
To increase container train operators to 50-55 trains
To have new wagon leasing policy
New Bulk handling facilities to be erected for cement
No busy season surcharge for cement transported in bulk via new facilities
To have new policy for bulk handling terminals
Special focus on door to door and value added services
No busy season surcharge for bulk cement transport via new facilities
SBUs (Strategic Business Unit) planned for cement, steel, coal, container sectors
Rs 250,000 cr worth of funds required by the Railways over the next 5 years for IT upgradation
1 lakh crore worth of PPP (Public Private Partnerships) planned over the next 5 years
Will look at multi model parks for Railways at various locations
Railway property to fetch 4000 crore in 2008-09
CCTVs and metal detectors to be put up at all stations
60 yrs and older passengers get 30% discount, female above 60 get 50% discount
Plan fire prevention device in coaches on pilot basis
Anti-fire gear to cost Rs 7,000 cr if pilot successful
Mother-Child Healthcare Express to be run in alliance with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
Group-D railway examinations to be taken in Urdu also, where it is the second language