Important Points to note in Railway Budget 2015

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented the Railway Budget for 2015 to 2016 in Lok Sabha on February 26′ 2015. While presenting the budget, the Minister referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet schemes like Swachch Bharat, Digital India and Make in India. The Minister announced no new trains and there is no will be no hike in Passenger fares.

Points to Remember in Railway Budget 2015

• Rs.8.5 lakh crore will be invested in Railways in next 5 years.
• Sanctioned fast track expansion of 7000 Km of existing railway routes.
• Expansion of 77 projects covering 9,400 Km of existing rail lines. 
• Resolving the rail traffic – allocated Rs. 2,374 crore for this purpose.
• Increasing the speed of 9 railway corridor from 110 Km to 140 kmph and from 160 Km to 200 kmph.
• Raised freight fares for several commodities by as much as 10%.
• Surveillance cameras in select coaches and ladies compartments for women’s safety
• Reducing the long haul Journeys between metros like Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai to overnight.
• Bio toilets and airplane-type vacuum toilets in trains.
• The feasibility study of bullet train on Mumbai-Ahmadabad route. 
  A full fledged university to be set up in this financial year. 
• Setting up of Environment Directorate to focus on environment management.
• Setting up of 1000 MW solar plants on railway land. 
• Enabling 100 Demu trains for dual fuel CNG and diesel.
• Rail tickets can now be booked 120 days in advance.
• ‘Operation 5 mins’ – Passengers travelling unreserved can purchase a ticket in just 5 minutes.
• Wi-Fi in more stations, mobile phone charging facilities in all train compartments.
• Facility of online booking of wheelchair for senior citizens.
• Four Railway Research Centers to start in four universities.