Railway Budget 2016 – 2017 , the plans made for development in Indian Railways and its achievements in recent times were  presented by Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu at Lok Sabha Today. Here , We come up with all the Highlights and other details from the Rail Budget 2016-17

Highlights of RAIL BUDGET 

• No hike in Railway Fares.
• Bar-coded tickets to tackle ticket less travel.
• 139 Helpline number for cancellation facility.
• E-ticket facility for Foreign debit and credit card holders.
• Catering Service managed by IRCTC.
• Local Cuisine as choice made available to passengers.
• Multi-purpose stalls to provide milk, medicines,etc.,
• Toilet cleaning requests through SMS.
• Sarthi Seva in Konkan Railways to help Senior Citizens.
• New Railway Stations to Accessible India Guidelines.
• CCTV networks provided at 311 railway stations.
• 2000 tickets/ min by e-ticketing system will be increased to 7,200/min.
• Redevelopment of Large and Medium Stations.
• In 2016-17 we expecting Operating ratio of 92%.
• The Capital Plan will be 1,21,000 Crore.
• 2,800 Km of new tracks will be commissioned next year.
• 100 Railway stations were connected with Wi-fi and 400 will be connected next year.
• GPS- based digital display in coaches to show upcoming stations.
• 1,600 Kms are electrified this year and 2,000 kms are proposed next year.
• 17,000 bio-toilets and additional toilets be provided this year end.
• 1,780 ticket vending machines introduced.
• 50% increased for senior citizens seat quota.
• Rs.1,84,820 Crore will be generated as revenue next year.

Other Developments & Achievements 

• North-East India, Mizoram and Manipur to be connected through Broad Gauge.
• 10.1% higher than revised target.
• Rs.8,720 crore to saved for budget estimates of last year will be effected this year.
• Elimination of unmanned level crossings by 2020.
• 139 last year Budget announcements has been initiated.
• Time tabled freight trains by 2020.
• Generate 9 crore man-days employment 2017-18 and 14 crore man-days 2018-19.
• LIC agreed 1.5 lakh crore investment over 5 years on favorable terms.
• New Freight Corridors: Delhi – Chennai, Kharagpur – Mumbai, Kharagpur – Vijaywada.
• Surpass target of Commissioning 2500 kms of broad gauge lines, 30% higher than last year.
• Finalized bids for 2 locomotive factories.
• Recruitment process online for railways will be 100% transparency.
• Increase quota, Lower Berths for Women and Senior Citizens.
• 20% accidents were reduced this year.
• Railway University to be opened soon in Vadhora.
• Deen Dayal Coaches for unreserved passengers in Long Distance trains.
• Fully unreserved super fast trains on dense traffic routes.
• Antyodaya Express to be named for Long Distance Super fast unreserved trains.
• Broad Gauge Lumding-Silchar section in Assam, to connect Bark Valley to other parts of country.
• Overnight Double-Decker trains for business travel routes.
• Journalist get facility of e-booking tickets on concessional passes.
• Front-end staff employed through service providers.
• Children`s Menu, Baby foods, Baby Boards to be made available for travelling mothers.
• Coolies called as SAHAYAKS.
• Rail Bandhu Magazines to be published in all regional languages.
• FM radio stations to be invited to provide train borne entertainment via PA systems.
• Ring Railway redeveloped in partnership with Delhi Government.
• Work with Karnataka state government for suburban rails.
• Partner with Tamilnadu government to develop suburban network in Chennai through financial methods.
• First Rail Auto Hub will come up in Chennai.
• Special Focus to explore advertising potentials at big stations.
• Increase advertising revenue by four times this year.
• 33% sub-quota for women in all reserved categories.
• Drones are used to monitor ongoing projects.
• Setting 50 Crore to provide innovation grants to start-ups.
• Two Dedicated freight corridors by 2019.