Indian Railway budget highlights

Following are the highlights of the Indian Railway Budget 2009-10

* Fares reduced by Re 1 for ordinary trains travel costing up to Rs 50 per ticket for journey above 10 km.

* Second class and sleeper class fares cut by two per cent for tickets costing Rs 50 and more.

* A/C First Class, II and III tiers and A/C Chair Car fares cut by two per cent.

* As many as 43 new trains to be started in 2009-10.

* Frequencies of 14 trains to be increased and another 14 to be extended.

* Plan outlay kept at Rs 37,905 crore.

* Gross traffic receipts estimated at Rs 93,159 crore, an increase of Rs 10,766 crore from last fiscal.

* Passenger traffic estimated to grow by 7 per cent.

* Freight loading targeted at 910 MT, up by 60 MT from last year.

* 25 surveys proposed comprising 14 new lines, of which three for gauge conversion and eight for doubling projects.

* Pre-feasibility study for bullet trains being pursued at 6 stretches, including Delhi-Amritsar and Delhi-Patna.

* Dividend payable to general revenues kept at Rs 5,304 crore for 2009-10.

* Ordinary working expenses budgeted at Rs 62,900 crore to cover the full year impact of 6th Central Pay Commission.

* Work on diesel and electric locomotive factories at Marhoura and Madhepura targeted for early start.

* Construction of rail wheel factory at Chapra on.

* Bharat Wagon Ltd, Mokama and Muzaffarpur transfered to the Railways Ministry.

* Transfer of wagon units of Burn Standard at Burnpurand Howrah to Railways Ministry is also under consideration.

* Number of accidents came down to 194 in 2007-08.

* For the fiscal 2008-09, plan outlay revised at Rs 36,773 crore.

* Implementation of 6th CPC likely to cost Rs 9,000 crore more on staff cost and Rs 4,500 crore on pension in 2008-09.

* Freight loading target retained at 850 MT, passenger growth estimated at 7 per cent for 2008-09.

* Dividend payable to general revenues for 2008-09 kept at Rs 4,711 crore.

* Cash surplus before dividend for 2008-09 projected at Rs 19,320 crore.

* Ordinary working expenses raised to Rs 55,000 crore and appropriation to pension fund to Rs 10,500 crore in 2008-09.