PM hails Mamata, says budget will make train journey enjoyable

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hailed Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for doing a "competent job" at a short notice, saying the Railway Budget will make train travel an "enjoyable experience".

"She (Mamata) has prepared a budget which does not impose burden by way of increase in freight charges or passenger charges," Dr Singh told reporters outside Parliament shortly after the Railway Budget 2009-10 was presented in Lok Sabha.   

"At the same time, she has, in keeping with our government's election promises, focussed her attention on passenger amenities like security and safety of rail travel, making it an enjoyable experience," he said.Dr Singh said the Railway Minister has mentioned a large number of facilities by way of using innovative financial mechanisms like public-private partnership (PPP), "to improve railway production and to finance more investment". 

"I, therefore, compliment her for a competent job she has accomplished in shortest available time," he said.
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By :  News Team

No increase in passenger rail fares, slew of sops in Rly budget

3 July : Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has proposed no increase in passenger fares or freight tariff while announcing a slew of measures including launch of 12 non-stop point-to-point long-distance trains and air-conditioned double-decker coaches for inter-city travel.

Presenting the Budget for 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha, the first after UPA's return to power, she also announced concessions for unorganised sector by proposing monthly season ticket of Rs 25 for people with monthly income of up to Rs 1,500 for travel up to 100 kms.

Her proposals included introduction of 57 new train services, extension of 27 new trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains and making 'Tatkal' scheme more user-friendly by reducing the advance booking period from five days to two days and minimum charge from Rs 150 to Rs 100.

The sops also covered students of Madrassas to whom concessions will be extended. Concessional monthly season tickets to students in Kolkata will be applicable for travel in the Kolkata Metro Rail also.

The Budget estimates for 2009-10 projects a freight loading target of 882 million tonnes, an increase of 49 million tonnes and a six per cent increase in the number of passengers.Gross traffic receipts have been estimated at Rs 88,419 crore, which is Rs 8,557 crore more than 2008-09. 

Highlights of Railway Budget 2009-10   

*   Passenger and freight rates across board left unchanged 

*   Net revenue of Railways at Rs 8,121 crore in 2008-09 

*   To pay higher dividend Rs 5,479 crore to Centre in FY'10

*   Tatkal charges reduced from rs 150 to Rs 100

*   Ladies' specials in suburban trains during peak hours

*   'Izzat' monthly ticket of Rs 25 for up to 100 km travel

*   New coach factory at Kanchrapara in West Bengal 

*   Cold storages for farmers to store vegetables and fruits

 *   Talks to take over ailing wagon manufacturing units

*   18,000 wagons to be acquired during current year 

*   Railway medical colleges along with rail hospitals on PPP

*   Student concession will cover Madrasa students

*   Spl. coaches for disabled and aged persons

*   50 stations to be developed on world-class standard 

*   375 stations to be upgraded as 'Adarsh' stations with basic facilities - drinking water, toilets and ladies' dormitories 

*   On-board availability of doctors in long distance trains 

*   On-board infotainment services to be provided

*   6,560 staff quarters to be constructed in 2009-10

*   High-capacity A/C double-decker trains to be introduced 

*   57 new trains to be introduced 

*   12 non-stop trains to be introduced 

*   Accredited journalists to get 50% rebate; also once a year with spouse 

*   Proposes 1,000 MW power plant at Adra, a tribal area 

*   Cash surplus of Rs 17,400 crore before dividend 

*   Railways has investible surplus of Rs 12,681 crore 

*   Annual plan expenditure pegged at Rs 36,336 crore

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By :  News Team

GOVT. TO GIVE RS. 200/- FOR TRANSPORTATION OF PREGNANT WOMEN TO GOVT. HOSPITALS

Chandigarh, 3rd  July, 2009 –         The Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Punjab has decided to provide Rs. 200/- for private transportation of pregnant women for deliveries in Government Hospitals.  Prof. Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Health & Family Welfare Minister, Punjab here today stated that this initiative has been taken under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).  All categories of women i.e. both Rural and Urban would be eligible for grant of Rs. 200/- for the transport. The amount would be paid in the Institution itself at the time of discharge of the mother. This facility has been provided in order to encourage the mothers to approach the Health Institutions for deliveries. 

                    The Minister further stated that Health Department in December, 2008 had waived off the user charges for all deliveries including caesarean in Government Hospitals.  The user charges of Rs. 300/- for normal delivery and Rs. 1000/- for caesareans have been withdrawn and the deliveries are being conducted free of cost in the Government Hospitals. She added that the Department has recorded a remarkable 50% increase in the Institutional deliveries in Government Hospitals during 2008-09 as compared to previous year 2007-08.  The Minister appealed to the people, especially the pregnant women to utilize the govt health facilities for deliveries.  She exhorted people to stop the practice of deliveries at homes and at hands of unskilled people.  The Minister told that increase of institutional deliveries would drastically bring down in Infant Mortality Ratio (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
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By :  News Team