Indian Railways

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav presented the Indian Railway Budget for 2008-09 in Parliament on Tuesday.

Rail Budget 08-09 at a Glance. Here we present some highlights from this year's Railway Budget.

"We are scoring goal after goal in every match. Every child in the country will now say "Chak de, Railways" ... We have not only dreamed but turned the dreams in to reality. Mungeri lal ke haseen sapne have been turned into reality and are being implemented."
- Railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's Railway Budget Speech 2008-09 Coverage. (PDFs are available for downloads in both English and Hindi. Visit this link for more info)

Now with elections next year and a much larger cash surplus than ever before, Indian Railwyas minister Lalu prasad yadav responded with a railway budget that was good not only for poor of the country but for almost everyone. The Railway Minister on Tuesday announced cuts in passenger fares, better jobs for coolies and enhanced ticketing options, while refusing to hike freight rates.

Indian Railways performance in year 2007-08.

• For year 2007-08 Net Revenue expected at Rs. 18,416 cr and surplus after payment of dividend expected at Rs.13,534 cr.
• Both Growth in passenger earnings and expected growth in goods earnings of 14%.
• Most importently double digit growth in traffic earnings was maintained in first nine months of previous year.

• Freight loading target for this year is project at 850 million tones.
• Revenues in Freight earnings to be Rs.52,700 cr and Passenger earnings to be Rs.21,681 cr for comming year is targeted.
• Cash surplus before Dividend to be Rs.24,783 cr after making an ad-hoc provision of nearly Rs.5000 cr for anticipated recommendations of the VI Central Pay Commission.

Indian Railways Annual Plan 2008-09

With over more than Rs. 25,000 Cr. cash surplus Indian Railways minister lalu prasad has unveiled highest ever annual investment plan of Rs 37,500 crore during year 2008-09. While presenting the budget to the parliament he said "Under this plan priority has been given to enhancement of rail capacity, modernisation of the railway, throughput enhancement on high capacity routes, traffic facility work as and expansion and development of the network"

Other major improvements in annual plan includes Track renewal of Rs.3,600 cr; Bridges renovation and maintenance at Rs. 600 cr; Signal & Telecommunication works worth Rs.1,520 cr; Budget for Road over/under bridges of Rs. 700 cr and manning of unmanned level crossings at Rs.600 cr.

Indian Railways budget 08-09 Charts, Facts & Figures.

Bar 1: '06-07 Actual Bar 2: '07-08 (Budget) Bar 3: 07-08 (Revised) Bar 4: '08-09 (Budget)

Graphs and Information on Railways Budget

Detailed information and complete coverage of Indian Railways budget

Rail Budget 2008-09 Glimpses.

1. Passenger fares are slashed in new railway budget including 7% reduction in AC First Class to fight competition from low cost airlines. AC second Class fares are cut by 4% and 5% discount on 2nd class in Mail & Express trains is announced.
2. 10 new garib raths and 53 new Trains are announced. Few routes are extended and frequency increased. Bihar gets 16 new trains.
3. Proposed improvements in Indian Railways - New joy ride for passengers.
4. Indian Railways posts record $6.3Billion surplus.
5. Indian Railways reduces freight rates on oil traffic by 5%.
6. Rs. 5000 cr is allocated for implementing pay commission report.
7. Indian Railways present highest-ever annual plan of Rs. 37,500 cr.
8. Indian Railways targets 100% jump in cement transportation by 2011-12.
9. Free Travel for girl students up to graduation.
10. Vision 2025 to be Finalised within Six Months to lay Foundation for Resurgent Railways.
11. Booking of Rail Tickets Through Mobile Phones
12. New Railway Coach Factory in Kerala