Mamata's words as she got into her car to leave for Parliament, seemed to sum up what she has in store: "Railways is always for the people, by the people, of the people."
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee presented the Railway Budget 2010 on Wedndesday, 24th February 2010.
She has already dedicated the budget to the "commom man" and also perhaps to the Assembly polls in Bengal next year.
Mamata's words as she got into her car to leave for Parliament, seemed to sum up what she has in store: "Railways is always for the people, by the people, of the people."
Last October, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh forwarded the Rail Ministry a note of caution from the Planning Commission on key issues dragging the Indian Railways.
On Tuesday evening, Mamta Banerjee called on Dr Singh but whether or not she will pay heed to the PM's advice is nebulous.
Here are some highlights of the Rail Budget as proposed by Mamta Banerjee:
For cheap drinking water, the Ministry plans to start 6 bottling plants.
Railways 2020 vision document will contain short, medium and long-term goals.
Commitments fulfilled to the maximum. Out of 120 trains announced in last budget, only three remain to be flagged off because of lack of broad-gauge lines, said Banerjee.
In order to earn revenues, Railways need to set up a business model, she added.
If land is available, Railways willing to set up a Diesel Multiple Unit factory in West Bengal, said Banerjee.
Integral Coach Factory in Chennai to be modernised and a new unit to be set up there, she added.
Also, Wagon Repair Shop to be set up in Badnera near Amravati in Maharashtra.
Banerjee said that Railways would not be privatised; It will remain with the government. However, she appealed to business houses to join hands for building partnership with Railways.
Presenting Railway Budget for 2010-11, Banerjee said a special task force will be set up for early clearance of projects.
Railways also plan to enhance contribution to central staff benefit fund and will provide houses to all its employees in the next 10 years in collaboration with the Urban Development Ministry. Also ex-servicemen to be inducted in RPF.
All 13,000 unmanned level crossings to be manned in the next five years, said the Union Railway Minister.
Railways to set up mobile e-ticketing centres at hospitals, universities, courts, IITs, IIMs, district headquarters and village panchayats.
The Union Railway Minsiter proposed to start 54 new trains in the coming year and 101 new suburban trains in Mumbai. Railways will be the lead partner in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
High-speed dedicated passenger corridors to be constructed; no forcible acquisition of land for freight corridor project. One member of each family of land losers to be given employment in the freight corridor as also in the new projects, she said. National High Speed Rail Authority also to be set up.
