The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented the Railway budget on Thursday that gave respite to public by not increasing the fares. Concentrating on improving the passenger amenities, as quoted by Prabhu, the following are the highlights of the budget passed.

• Tickets will now be booked 120 days in advance.
• Introducing ‘Operation 5-minute’ to ensure ticketless passenger get regular ticket within 5 minute of entering station.
• SMS alert service to be introduced on train arrival/departure.
• Railways to provide WiFi facilities at 400 stations.
• More general coaches to be added.
• CCTVs in selected trains and suburban trains to ensure women safety.
• On-board entertainment on select Shatabdi trains.
• More trains to be added under scheme for ordering food while booking tickets; rail-cum-road ticket to be extended to many stations.
• Railways will remove over 3,000 unmanned railway crossings.
• Prabhu asked MPs to contribute money from their MPLAD funds to improve passenger amenities across India.
• Train collision detection system to be introduced in select routes.
• 6608 Km of track to be electrified.
• Projects worth Rs. 96,182 Cr to expand capacity of 9,420 Km rail lines.

Railways total earning have fallen short of target this year by Rs. 917 Cr. Railways projects 15% higher earnings in 2015-16 compared with revised estimates for 2014-15.

Source: Indian Express