Rail Budget 2008 Declared - Bonanza for Porters, Fares Reduced, Populist Budget

Indian Railways Minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav presented the Railways Budget Report 2008 before the Parliament today.

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 notable features of the budget are:

• 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
• Low mainenance and more comfortable stainless steel coaches to be introduced from 2010
• To have online control of trains in 2 years
• New coaches in all Rajdhani trains by 2010-11
• 30 Bigger stations to have multi level parking system
• 50 large stations to have lifts / escalators- for convenience of senior citizens
• 50 new terminals to be developed for storage
• 50 big terminals planned in Mumbai, Pune, Ghaziabad
• CCTVs and metal detectors to be put up at all stations
• 60 yrs and older passengers get 30% discount
• Lady passenger above 60 yrs to get 50% discount
• To start 53 new passenger train

With an eye on the oncoming general elections and to appease the common people, the Railway Minister has announced granting of employment to all registered porters at all railway stations. The announcement drew the ire and protests of the opposition.

The budget is populist no doubt. The move to give employment to the porters is a step in the right direction. Porters were a neglected community for long and have always been at the receiving end for long. No wonder there are jubliation and celebration amongst the porters.

You can see the budget live here

Full highlights of the budget can be read here.

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