Railway Budget , 2016-17

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 25 February 2016 presented the Railway Budget 2016-17 in the Lok Sabha. In his second Rail Budget, Prabhu outlined a capital plan of 121000 crore rupees in 2016-17. A saving of 8720 crore rupees for Budget estimates of 2015-16 will be effected in 2016.
Theme of the Budget is Overcoming challenges – Reorganize, Restructure Rejuvenate Indian Railways: ‘Chalo, Milkar Kuch Naya Karen’.
Railway Budget of 2016-17 is based on three pillars and they are Nav Arjan (New Revenues), Nav Manak (New Norms) and New Sanrachna (New Structures).
Nav Arjan (New Revenues)
It exploits new sources of revenue so that every asset, tangible or non-tangible gets optimally monetized.
New Manak (New Norms)
A Zero Budgeting approach to the financials of the ensuring year, improvement in efficiency yardsticks and procurement practices to bring them in line with international best practices
Nav Sanrachna (New Structures)
Need to re-imagine the conventional ways of solving issues like co-operation, collaboration and communication, creativity and communication to the hallmark of decision-making and actions
Highlights:

• To ease the worries of common man, this year’s Rail Budget 2016-17 comes up with no hike in passenger fare.
• Setting aside Rs 50 cr to fund startups by railway employee.
• 2 month internships in Railways for 100 students across Engineering & MBA.
• To introduce National Rail Plan to harmonise network & set up a new R&D organization.
• Drones to be used for remote monitoring physical monitoring of ongoing projects.
• 100 terrabytes of data created annually. These to be analysed systematically
• 33% sub-quota for women under all reserved categories.
• Increase the advertising revenue by more than four times this year.
• To give special focus to exploring advertising potentials at big stations.
• In-principal nod for MUTP(Mumbai Urban Transport Project) projects received.
• Container sector will be open to all traffic barring coal & select ores
• India's first rail auto hub to come up in Chennai.
• To inaugurate dedicated rail auto hub in Chennai & explore the possibility of leasing out general purpose wagons.
• Railways to increase share of non-tariff revenues from the current level of 5%
• To publish Rail Bandhu magazine in all regional languages.
• Rail side logistic parks and warehouses proposed for capacity building of terminals
• All new Railway stations to be built as per Accessible India guidelines.
• IRCTC will make available local cuisine of choice, hygienic food.
• "Coolies" will be called as "Sahayak".
• New policy of multi-purpose stalls at station to provide multiple services like milk and medicines.
• Local cuisine of choice will be made available to passengers
• Third party audit on catering, and there will be reservation for SC/ST and for women in catering.
• Introduce Antyodaya Express, superfast train for long routes
• Introduced Sarthi Seva in Konkan Railways for help to senior citizens
• 'Clean my coach' service through sms on pan-india basis
• Introduced Utkrisht double decker air conditioned yartri (UDAY) express with increased carrying capacity of almost 40%
• National Academy of Railways at Vadodara to be made a full fledged university
• To introduce overnight double-decker trains on the busiest roots
• World's first Bio-vacuum toilet developed by Indian Railways is being used in Bibrugarh Rajdhani express.
• Increasing Senior Citizen Quota By 50%
• More dedicated freight corridors to accommodate the increased demand in freight transport.
• Port connectivity and North East connectivity will be priority in this budget
   

By: Vishal