Railway Budget speech 2008-09: Full text

ON TRACK: Lalu Prasad presents Railway Budget 2008-09.

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Besides using fire resistant material in coaches as per international standards a comprehensive smoke and fire detection system to give an early warning in case of smoke and fire is proposed to be installed in one rake on a pilot basis. Based on the success of trials it will be installed in all the trains in a phased manner at a cost of Rs.700 cr.

Construction of ROBs and RUBs

Sir, normally the construction of ROB and RUB is done on a 50:50 cost sharing basis between the Railways and state governments. There has been a delay in these works because of limited resources available with the State Governments. We have decided to construct RUBs wherever feasible in place of manned level crossings and for level crossings having eligibility for manning at Railways own cost at a maximum cost of Rs. 1.5 cr for double line and Rs.1.25 cr for single line. State Governments would have to bear only the minimum expenditure of providing connecting roads. The construction of 582 ROBs or RUBs is in progress on a 50:50 cost sharing basis with the state governments. It is proposed to take up another 100 new works of ROB s and RUB s during 2008-09. 76 As per the present yardstick 1200 level crossings are to be replaced by ROBs. However, these ROBs could not be taken up because of lack of sanction by State Governments on a 50:50 cost sharing basis. Next year the

possibility of construction of ROBs through BOT under PPP would be explored and viability gap funding would also be provided, if necessary. This is expected to result in a manifold increase in the number of ROBs constructed every year.

Safety at Unmanned Level Crossings

Sir, there are 16,600 manned level crossings and 18,200 unmanned level crossings on Indian Railways. With the increase in number of motor vehicles, there is a progressive increase in the rail accidents at unmanned level crossings. During winter season, the problem becomes more acute due to foggy conditions in and North Eastern states of India. The number of accidents at unmanned level crossings in 2006-07 has increased to 37% of total number of consequential train accidents as compared to 15% in the year 2000-01. Out of 195 consequential train accidents which occurred in 2006-07, 72 accidents were at the unmanned level crossings. Therefore, we have decided to make our policy more generous and comprehensive to man all the busy unmanned level crossings on a fast track basis.

Social Welfare

Appointment of licenced porters to the posts of gangmen and other

Group D Posts

Musafir aur coolie ka saath, barson se nirantar hain Ose samman dein, jo raat-din seva mein tatpar hain

Porters working on stations belong to scheduled castes and tribes, other backward castes, minorities and other weaker sections of society. They have been carrying the luggage of passengers for years. There are thousands of vacant posts of gangmen. A large number of additional vacancies will arise due to promotion of gangmen as gatemen for manning of unmanned level crossings gates.

In view of the long pending demand of licenced porters, we have decided on a one time basis to appoint them as gangmen and to other Group D posts after due screening.

Concessions: free monthly season tickets for students

Presently, free monthly season tickets for second class travel between school and home is provided to girl students up to 12th standard and boy students up to 10th standard. We have now decided to extend this facility for girl students up to graduation and for boy students up to 12th standard.

50 percent concession for lady senior citizens

Presently Railways give 30% concession in passenger fares of all classes to senior citizens above the age of 60. Now we have decided to increase this concession from 30% to 50% in passenger fares of all classes for lady senior citizens.