Rail Budget 2013: Will P K Bansal bite the bullet on fare hike?

While provision for manufacturing of 670 new locomotives including 20 LNG locos will be made, the Budget will also account for manufacturing of about 16,000 new wagons.

Railways proposes to run as many as 70 heavy haul freight trains over the next year in a move which will not only help decongestion of the busy trunk routes but also enable it to manage its freight traffic till the dedicated freight corridor takes shape.

Despite cash crunch, funds are likely to be announced in the Rail Budget 2013-14 for long pending projects that include laying new lines, electrification, gauge conversion and doubling.

Currently, there are about 347 rail projects worth Rs 1.47 lakh crore pending. Railways is planning to complete some of these works in the next fiscal.

Certain pending projects involving laying of new lines as last-mile connectivity are being identified and funds will be allocated in the budget for completion of those tracks.

Planning Commission has earmarked Rs 1,94,221 crore as General Budgetary Support (GBS) for Railways in the 12th Five-Year Plan. It has asked the national transporter to earn Rs 1,05,000 crore from internal generation and Rs 2,20,000

crore through extra budgetary resources during (2012-17).

Railways expect to generate Rs 7,000 crore revenue from internal generation and Rs 18,000 crore from market borrowing in next fiscal.

Government may soon notify some works connected with the Railways like afforestation and construction of approach road for crossings under its ambitious rural job scheme which is likely to find a mention in the budget.

Industry has called for speedy implementation of key railway projects such as the Dedicated Freight Corridor, high- speed rail corridors, rolling stock and other capacity enhancement works in the Rail Budget 2013-14.

In response to the industry demand Railways will announce some initiatives to encourage public-private partnerships in rail sector.

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