Eye on Bengal assembly polls, Mamata Banerjee may present a populist railway budget today. DNA does advance booking for you
Dwindling finances of the railways notwithstanding, minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to present a populist budget on Friday. Obvious reason: West Bengal assembly elections are in May and the Trinamool Congress chief is eyeing Kolkata’s Writers’ Building, which houses the chief minister’s office.
After giving it final touches, Mamata said the budget would be dedicated to the common man. She is likely to announce around 150 new trains, including special seasonal trains for students and 25-30 new Durontos — the non-stop express Mamata introduced in her 2009 budget — but a fare hike is highly unlikely, despite the planning commission and finance ministry’s representations to the contrary.
The minister is also likely to announce special tatkal trains, reservations for which will be made only two days prior to journey. Another possible significant announcement could be creation of a special Rs25,000-crore-Rs30,000-crore fund for rail connectivity in the North-East. The finance ministry is likely to contribute significantly to this fund.
Railway minister's train of thought
ON WEST BENGAL
Mamata is expected to announce a rail link between Howrah and Sealdah and the densely-populated central districts of Kolkata
ON NEW TRAINS
Over 100 of these, including Durontos from Guwahati to New Delhi and Howrah, likely
ON SECURITY
Upgrade at sensitive stations, recruitment of RPF personnel, deployment of security forces on important trains and close coordination with state govts on cards
ON ACCIDENTS
Installation of safety-related equipment, such as train protection warning systems and anti-collision devices on dense routes, may be in the offing
ON FOOD
As per its new catering policy, railways may set up mega-base kitchens in metros preparing 50,000 to 1 lakh meals per day for passengers
ON STUDENTS
Mamata could announce special exam-season tatkal-booking trains for students
ON PASSENGER PLAINTS
A nation-wide SMS service to lodge complaints against rail services on the 132 number likely
ON GOING GREEN
Installation of two bio-diesel plants with an aim to cut air pollution and reduce diesel consumption may be announced
ON MUMBAI
A multi-mode transport system between Hyderabad and Secunderabad is likely to find a mention in the budget along with capacity enhancement of the Mumbai suburban rail system
ON FREIGHT
Mamata could also announce measures to step up work on the dedicated rail freight corridors project which is lagging behind schedule
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