Railway Budget for 2014-15: It'll be anything but usual Rail Budget, says Sadananda G

[V.Balasubramani]

Share:

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Email Share Link

Railway Budget for 2014-15: It'll be anything but usual Rail Budget, says Sadananda Gowda

NEW DELHI: Railway minister DV Sadananda Gowda has the most unenviable task at hand. After he announces the rail budget for 2014-15 on Tuesday, he has one year to put the ramshackle and unprofitable Indian Railways back on track.

As he gave final touches to the railway budget on Monday, Gowda smiled at the photo-op, and refused to say if his budget was going to open doors to private players and foreign investors, as largely expected.

The bad news was already out of the way w ..

Read more at: Railway Budget for 2014-15: It'll be anything but usual Rail Budget, says Sadananda Gowda - The Economic Times

 

[sarang]

Budget will be live in minister's twitter and facebook.
High speed trains, freight corridor, religious tourism, public private partnership, security will be covered, if manifesto is taken as the guide.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Passengers seek better facilities from Modi Government's maiden railway budget.

Thiruvananthapuram/ Bhubaneswar, July 7 (ANI): Railway passengers are expecting improved facilities, cleanliness and more trains from the maiden Railway Budget of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government.

The Railway Budget for 2014-15 will be presented by Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda on Tuesday morning. Final touches are reportedly being given to it today before it is placed for review by the Union Cabinet.

In Kerala, daily commuters said they expected the government to charge normal fares and to provide enhanced facilities.
"Majority of Keralites here are normal people, and we hope that the BJP can give us normal train ticket rates. Secondly, we are expecting new services from the BJP," said Syed Mohammad, a passenger.

Ramachandran, another passenger, said he wanted more coaches on key routes to avoid rush.
"I expect more trains to come to Kerala and also enhanced facilities. I expect more compartments in trains to avoid rush," he said.

In Odisha, commuters complained about poor facilities and delayed train timings. They hoped the upcoming railway budget would solve these issues.

"We see ourselves as a developing nation, but the facilities are very poor. It is very important that it should be taken care of and the timings of the train should also be improved because passengers keep waiting and the train never arrives on scheduled time," said Ramanatha, a passenger.


Read more at: https://in.news.yahoo.com/passenger...odi-governments-maiden-railway-063352446.html

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Modi: Railway Budget is futuristic, growth-oriented - NEWSTODAY

New Delhi: Calling the railways futuristic and growth-oriented, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that the railway budget has its focus on transparency and passenger safety.

The Rs.149,176 crore budget presented in the Lok Sabha focussed on "transparency and integrity" as well as the safety needs of commuters, Modi said in remarks later.

The budget "keeps in mind the development of India. We can see the great use of technology also", he said.

"This budget shows where we want to take the railways and at the same time where we want to take India through the railways," the prime minister said.

The budget introduces the country's first bullet train, to ply between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and increase the speed of passenger trains up to 200 km an hour on select routes.

The budget "strengthens institutionalized mechanism" in the Indian Railway network, which carries 23 million passengers every day.

Modi said the railways play "a very important role" in the country's development.

He said the country should have paid more attention to railways after independence in 1947. "Better late than never."

Source: http://newstodaynet.com/nation/modi-railway-budget-futuristic-growth-oriented

 

[Brahmanyan]

Railway Budget for 2014-15: It'll be anything but usual Rail Budget.

This is a good Budget. In fact much better than expected. With the changing times we need fresh thinking in running a mammoth institution like Indian Railways, which enjoy monopoly over cheapest passenger connectivity in India. The all powerful Railway Board needs a new thinking and should be infused with young blood. People should understand nothing is cheap.If we expect quality, then we have to pay the price for it. We can see this in the case of services provided by private sectors. I hope Mr Sadananda Gowda will openup new Railway Routes to private sector on the basis of PPP that he has announced.
Wishing the new Minister all the Best,

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[krish44]

stock market gave a thumbs down and crashed

it is too much of generalities and intent and very little of concrete plan of action for this year.

attempts to outsource with inhouse huge manpower consuming 94 percent of revenue as salaries and pensions shows inexperience in governance

high speed on worn out tracks and poor quality of signalling and unmanned crossings is compromising on safety

the balance sheet of railways may not attract many foreign players. unless rlys becomes a thin organisation with lower manpower strength it will be another air india

congress damaged airindia . bjp will screw up rlys.

all this madness for FDI and selling out to private players can increase only corruption and there will be more scandals in times to come. rlys will become high cost and cease to be the transport for common man.

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Railway Budget 2014-15: Highlights

[h=2]Union Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda presented his maiden Railway Budget in Parliament on Tuesday. Here are the highlights of this Budget.[/h]* No new increase in passenger fares and freight charges
* Bullet train in Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector
* Diamond quadrilateral for high speed trains
* Plan to hike speed of trains to 160-200 km/hr in 9 sectors
* Online booking to support 7,200 tickets per minute; to allow 1.2 lakh users log in simultaneously
* Reservation system to be revamped, ticket-booking through mobile phones, post offices to be popularised
* Online platform for unreserved tickets
* Combo parking-platform tickets at stations
* Women RPF Constables to escort ladies coaches; 4,000 women constables to be inducted
* Retiring room facility to be extended to all stations
* Battery operated cars for differently-abled and senior citizens at major stations
* Feedback services through IVRS on quality of food
* Food can be ordered through SMS, phone; Food courts at major stations



Read more at: Railway Budget 2014-15: Highlights - The Hindu

 

[V.Balasubramani]

What experts say about Rail Budget 2014 - Economic Times.


Read : What experts say about Rail Budget 2014 - The Economic Times

 

[sarang]

In line with bjp election manifesto and modi's pre election speeches. There are indications that modi will sign a 300 billion deal with Japan in his trip to Japan next month. Even in his interview with times now before elections, modi said that money is not a problem in general. Execution on time is more important.

Mukesh ambani made a similar observation in San interview. Any amount of finance can be arranged in a lunch meet with bankers and financiers provided they have faith in your ability to deliver. Modi has generated that confidence.

Budget will be live in minister's twitter and facebook.
High speed trains, freight corridor, religious tourism, public private partnership, security will be covered, if manifesto is taken as the guide.

 

[prasad1]

Investors gave thumbs down to the first railway budget of the Narendra Modi Government as the S&P BSE Sensex plunged by 517.97 points or 1.98 per cent on Tuesday.


In a highly volatile trading, the benchmark index closed at 25582.11, after touching a high of 26190.44 and a low of 25495.04. The fall was sharp in mid- and small-cap stocks as they dipped by 3.63 per cent and 4.19 per cent, respectively. Among other broad-based indices, BSE-100 fell by 2.50 per cent, BSE-200 by 2.56 per cent and BSE-500 lost 2.64 per cent.


On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the 50-share Nifty closed at 7623.20 with a fall of 163.95 points or 2.11 per cent.


“After a record opening, the markets slipped on profit-booking. Near to closing session, the markets witnessed more sell-off led by heavy weight stocks such as L&T, ICICI Bank and Reliance. The markets saw a highest percentage fall since September 2013. Now market participants are waiting for the Union Budget, which is expected to give cues for the future trend,” said Alex Mathews, Head Research, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.


Mr. Mathews said all sectors ended in the red, realty and power sectors being the major losers which closed down around 7.16 per cent and 6.37 per cent, respectively. DLF and BHEL were the major losers, closing down around 8.53 per cent and 8.21 per cent, respectively.


Chairman of the Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, meanwhile, tweeted that he was “bemused by market reaction to the railway budget: a focus on efficiency, transparency, service quality and a measured approach to expenditure.”
Bourses give thumbs down to Railway Budget - The Hindu

 

[prasad1]

The Narendra Modi government’s first railway budget has delivered a mixed bag. There are some major announcements which are welcome but there are no firm indications how the government will raise revenue for those projects.


Railway minister D V Sadananda Gowda has made big ticket declarations such as a bullet train on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, Sagar Mala (connecting ports) project, the Diamond Quadrilateral (freight corridor project). There are eight trains whose speed will be increased to 200 kmph. The bullet train alone costs a whopping Rs 65,000 crore at today’s prices. Obviously, the government cannot fund the project, so Gowda is banking on the domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) and the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. There are reports that the Union home ministry has shot down a proposal of the commerce ministry on FDI in railways.


Thus, there will be a challenge for Modi to work on inter-ministerial co-ordination to bring money to these projects. That the government resorted to hiking railway tariff last month will leave little scope for it to raise resources internally, making the task of finding money even more difficult. Added to this is the worrying aspect of a decline in the railway traffic growth in 2013-14 and increased in expenditure, as Gowda mentioned in the budget.
A mixed bag

 

[biswa]

Prasadji,

Challenges will always exist. But at least an attempt is being made to move beyond the status quo.

 

[prasad1]

Full of ideas, short on substance

Having effected increases amounting to 14.2 per cent in passenger fares and 6.5 per cent in freight tariff last month, Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda had very little to do in his maiden budget. His presentation was full of ideas and policy formulations, but lacked concrete proposals or a vision or road map to take the Indian Railways forward. What became clear even before the budget presentation was that the Railways was in poor financial health, and a course correction was imperative as the operating ratio was precarious. In short, the Railways had to spend 94 paise for every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of just six paise. The system cannot afford the huge doses of investment required to complete ongoing projects, leave alone initiating new ones. Mr. Gowda says the Railways needs Rs.5 lakh crore over the next 10 years to complete just the ongoing projects. As outlined in the President’s address to Parliament, the Diamond Quadrilateral Network of High Speed Rail system connecting major metros and growth centres was announced, but with a mere Rs.100 crore earmarked for initiating the project. He also unveiled the longer-term plan to introduce bullet trains, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route taking the lead. While the bullet trains will require completely new infrastructure, the high-speed train can make do with upgrading the existing network to allow speeds between 160 and 200 kmph.

Biswaji,
I admire that an attempt is being made. Is it not disingenuous to paint a rosy picture knowing fully well that it is not going to be funded?
Or I am looking for a roadmap, and they are showing a Hologram.

 

[krish44]

these guys are only sapnon ka saudagar

they will lose their credibility very fast if they talk bullet trains with a poor balance sheet with 94 percent operating ratio.

let us see if general budget is any better.

stock market is cruel . it sees thru any attempt at window dressing with fancy stories

 

[tbs]

hi

just words...implementation is tough.....same FDI proposal presented by congress opposed by bjp......now the FDI proposal

presented by bjp opposed by congress...my personal opinion...railway needs cleanliness/punctuality/customer care oriented/

safety issues....if a good service provoded ppl are ready to pay....but here SERVICE CHARGES CHARGED FOR NOT PROVIDING

SERVICES....

 

[V.Balasubramani]

tbs Sir,

You are right. A commuter is ready to pay extra provided better service is assured by the railways.

It is reported that a passenger who travelled overnight by sleeper class got down in the morning from the Tirunelveli Express with a bleeding ear lobe. Thanks to a rat’s mischief.This is a sample case, on safety for passengers who travel daily.

There were four railway accidents in which 51 lives were last over the last three months.

We abolished monopoly in the Insurance, Airlines, broadcasting and telecom sectors?
Why not railways?

 

[tbs]

tbs Sir,

You are right. A commuter is ready to pay extra provided better service is assured by the railways.

It is reported that a passenger who travelled overnight by sleeper class got down in the morning from the Tirunelveli Express with a bleeding ear lobe. Thanks to a rat’s mischief.This is a sample case, on safety for passengers who travel daily.

There were four railway accidents in which 51 lives were last over the last three months.

We abolished monopoly in the Insurance, Airlines, broadcasting and telecom sectors?
Why not railways?

hi

in all developed countries...railways are private....if jet airways/indigo can provide better services than air india....ppl prefer

private airlines than public sector airlines.....its not the question of money....its question of services/safety of ppl.....

if Amtrek can provide better rail system in USA....why not india?....becoz politicians can spin money...not for

common man's services.....who cares common man in india?......there are bed buggs in all AC compartments...

means MOOTTAI POOCHI IN ALL COACHES...pest control never had in railways....

 

[V.Balasubramani]

hi
...becoz politicians can spin money...not for common man's services.....who cares common man in india?......there are bed buggs in all AC compartments...means MOOTTAI POOCHI IN ALL COACHES...pest control never had in railways....

Sir,

You are right.

A report in an english daily says that a member of the Railway Board attempted to bribe a former Union Minister with ten crores in order to become Member (Electrical), a position that evidently had the potential to earn several times the 'investment' made, and thus exposed the cancer at the top. As you reported in another post, such member, after the attempt of bribing the Minister, may be seriously looking for all avenues only to recoup his money.

 

[tbs]

Sir,

You are right.

A report in an english daily says that a member of the Railway Board attempted to bribe a former Union Minister with ten crores in order to become Member (Electrical), a position that evidently had the potential to earn several times the 'investment' made, and thus exposed the cancer at the top. As you reported in another post, such member, after the attempt of bribing the Minister, may be seriously looking for all avenues only to recoup his money.

hi sir,

i can tell my own story...while i was travelling from ASSAM TO CHENNAI by A/C coach for three days....i had bitter

experiences....no water in toilet.... ac not working properly..horrible heat with bed buggs in night.....really a horrible

journey in AC coach...any body can enter/sit in day time in AC without reservation....its condition...TTE can mint

money as much as possible...

 

[Brahmanyan]

Railway Budget for 2014-15: It'll be anything but usual Rail Budget.

hi

in all developed countries...railways are private....if jet airways/indigo can provide better services than air india....ppl prefer
private airlines than public sector airlines.....its not the question of money....its question of services/safety of ppl.....
if Amtrek can provide better rail system in USA....why not india?....becoz politicians can spin money...not for
common man's services.....who cares common man in india?......there are bed buggs in all AC compartments...
means MOOTTAI POOCHI IN ALL COACHES...pest control never had in railways....

Agreed. Let us not forget that most part of Railway network was built by Companies owned by foreigners and Princely States before it was fully nationalised in 1949. They were run efficiently also. "A total of 42 separate railway systems, including 32 lines owned by the former Indian princely states existed at the time of independence spanning a total of 55,000 km. These were amalgamated into the Indian Railways". After independence there is a tendency on the part of ruling parties to pamper the people by populist measures like subsidizing every facility by the Government to attract votes in elections. This has ruined the country of modernaisation with advanced technology.
Government should stop doing business, instead concentrate on good Governance, which includes strict supervision. Mr Modi has understood this
and his Ministers should support him for long term benefits.
Let us not forget "nothing is cheap" in the world, including development.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[tbs]

Agreed. Let us not forget that most part of Railway network was built by Companies owned by foreigners and Princely States before it was fully nationalised in 1949. They were run efficiently also. "A total of 42 separate railway systems, including 32 lines owned by the former Indian princely states existed at the time of independence spanning a total of 55,000 km. These were amalgamated into the Indian Railways". After independence there is a tendency on the part of ruling parties to pamper the people by populist measures like subsidizing every facility by the Government to attract votes in elections. This has ruined the country of modernaisation with advanced technology.
Government should stop doing business, instead concentrate on good Governance, which includes strict supervision. Mr Modi has understood this
and his Ministers should support him for long term benefits.
Let us not forget "nothing is cheap" in the world, including development.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

hi sir,

just quote here....


மாதந்தோறும் டீசல் விலை உயர்த்தப்படுகிறது; மாதந்தோறும் ரயில் டிக்கெட் கட்டண உயர்வும் இருந்தால், இன்னும் 2 மாதங்களில் இப்போதுள்ள தனியார் ஆம்னி பஸ்களின் டிக்கெட் கட்டணத்தை ரயில் டிக்கெட் கட்டணம் எட்டிவிடும். ஏழை மற்றும் நடுத்தர மக்களுக்கான ரயில் பயணம் இனி பணக்காரர்களுக்கானது என மாறிவிடுமோ என அச்சமாக உள்ளது என்றார்.

just read more....

http://www.dinamani.com/tamilnadu/2014/07/09/ஆம்னி-பஸ்-கட்டணத்தை-ரயில்-டி/article2321724.ece

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Balancing act ahead of the budget

As the nation waited for the Modi government’s first Railway budget, for commuters on thePatna-Gaya line Monday was just another gruelling day.— Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Source: The Hindu dated:08.07.2014




This being the regular feature with trains so overcrowded, one is inclined to think that the Railways should be comfortable with revenue earned. The government should not forget that this is common man mode of transport.

 

[tbs]

Balancing act ahead of the budget

As the nation waited for the Modi government’s first Railway budget, for commuters on thePatna-Gaya line Monday was just another gruelling day.— Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

Source: The Hindu dated:08.07.2014




This being the regular feature with trains so overcrowded, one is inclined to think that the Railways should be comfortable with revenue earned. The government should not forget that this is common man mode of transport.

hi sir,

railways can make profit.....totally mismanagement/coruption as usual in all levels....

 

[sarang]

Cover price of most newspapers is around rs.3, and this does cover even the cost of paper. Revenue from other sources is pooled to make purchase price attractive and viable. Railways too have to earn from other sources to keep ticket prices low. There should be a clear distinction between subsidized fare for poor travelers and competitive fares for affordable travelers, with attendant infrastructure.

 

[vgane]

Bonanza for Karnataka , the home state of Railway Minister gets 11 new trains...TN not bad getting 5 trains