Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Presenting the first full-fledged Rail Budget of the Modi government for 2015-16, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu spared passengers from any hike in fares but made changes in freight rates to rake in more money while ruling out privatisation.
In his hour-long speech, Prabhu unveiled the thrust areas as the national carrier to become the prime mover of economy again, resource mobilisation for higher investments, decongestion of heavy routes and speeding up of trains, passenger amenities and safety.
Here are the main points of Rail Budget 2015 presented by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu:
1. No hike in passenger fares
2. Advance Booking up to 120 days
3. Online booking of disposable bed rolls
4. Multi-lingual E-ticketing , unreserved tickets through App
5. Operation 5 minute – for quick tickets
6. Online Pre-ordering of meals
7. Escalators, online wheelchairs, wider entrances for specially abled
8. Thrust on Safety through Collision Avoidance and Warning Protection Systems and ISRO support
9. Open wi-fi at 400 stations
10. Replacing 17,000 toilets and setting up of bio-toilets
11. Cheap but clean water through vending machines
12. Setting up of Satellite Stations in suburban areas
13. All India 24 X 7 helpline '138' from 1/3/15 ; Toll free No. '182' – for security complaints
14. SMS alert service about arrival and departure of trains
15. Pick and drop facility on payment to/from rail stations
