Provision For Railway's Fund In Budget

Provision For Railway's Fund In Budget

 The amount allocated and utilized for passenger safety, capital and development work, cleanliness and finance and accounting reforms in Railways in the financial year 2016-17 is indicated below :

Items	Revised Estimate 2016-17	Actual Expenditure 2016-17
Passenger Safety	63063.00	55918.00
Capital & Development Work	121000.00	110015.60
Cleanliness	1080.81	1008.46
Finance & Accounting Reforms	26.68	28.22

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 15.12.2017 (Friday).

PIB

200 more railway stations to have Wi-Fi in 2017

200 more railway stations to have Wi-Fi in 2017

Thiruvananthapuram: As part of its programme to upgrade facilities for rail users, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said here today that 200 more stations and some additional trains would be providedwith Wi-Fi in 2017.

Dedicating six Wi-Fi facilities to rail users at Kannur, Ernakulam and Kollam at a function here, he said 100 stations had been fitted with Wi-Fi this year and the target was to double this number in 2017.
“More trains will also would be provided with Wi-Fi next year,” he said.

“The objective is to have Wi-Fi facility in all railway stations in small cities and towns,” he said.
The Minister said steps were also on to construct escalators in stations, he said.

Welcoming the Kerala government’s decision to sign a Joint Venture with Railways for development projects in the state, he said that as partners, the railways would be developed in the state.

“The Centre and state will have equity in the venture and funds for the projects will be raised through market borrowings with the consent of the state government,” he said.

The resources spent under the JV would be in addition to funds earmarked in the Railway budget, he added.

Stating that investment in railway infrastructure can bring development to its optimum level in Kerala, Prabhu said he had asked some banks to prepare a business plan for the state.
Prabhu admitted that there was a lack of railway investment in Kerala and saidthe NDA government’s move was to reverse that trend.

Referring to remittances to the state from Non-Resident Keralites, he said even they could invest in railway projects.

“They can develop a railway station”, he said, adding that the key objective was to join hands for development.

The Railways was also looking out for resources other than its normal revenue.

They were also looking into the possibility of coverting its hospitals as medical college hospitals, he said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and G Sudhakaran, PWD Minister and in charge of Railways were among those present.

PTI

Railway Budget merger with General Budget will have positive effects

Railway Budget merger with General Budget will have positive effects

Railways today maintained that the merger of its budget with General Budget will have no adverse effect on its functioning and there will be positive outcome as the exchequer support to the national transporter will increase henceforth.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will not present a separate Rail Budget for the fiscal 2017-18 in the coming budget session in Parliament as the government has decided to do away with the year-long tradition of having it separately.

“Merger of Rail Budget has positive implications. It is very simple, no adverse implication and only positive implication,” Railway Board Chairman A K Mittal said at the Edotors’ conference here.

He said the Railways will no longer pay dividends to the exchequer which is a gain for the organisation.

Railways receieve gross budgetary support from the Finance Ministry and in return pay dividends on it.

“We have paid about Rs 9500 cr as dividends this year but now we do not have to pay dividends any longer after the merger,” Mital said.

Comparing with other transporter sectors, he said investment in railways was much less than the road sector over the years and as a result rail sector was languishing for the lack of infrastructure development.

“The investment in road sector was twice more than the rail sector. But now we hope a holistic approach will be adopted by the government for the whole transport sector including railways, road, waterways and others,” he said.

Asked about the possibilities of announcement of any tie-up with Japan on rail sector during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing Japan trip, he said “further discussion of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project is expected to come up.”

Japan is providing financial and technology support to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

On the demonitisation crisis, he was asked whether ticket counters are being used to convert black money to white and he said “Railways is in the buisness of carrying passengers and goods and is not for changing the colour of the money.”

After the demonitisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, ticket counters all over the country are witnessing heavy rush as people are using these notes to buy tickets and subsequently cancelling them to encash smaller denomination notes.

“Some people might think of that way. But now the refund will go to their account only,” he said.

Railways has decided to give refund money worth Rs 10,000 or above to the customers bank accounts.

Cabinet approves merging of Rail budget with Union Budget

Cabinet approves merging of Rail budget with Union Budget

New Delhi: In a major overhaul, the Cabinet today approved advancing presentation of the annual Budget by a month, scrapped over nine decade old tradition of having a separate Railway Budget and removed classifications for expenditure to make the exercise simpler.

With a view to get all the legislative approvals for the annual spending and tax proposals before the beginning of the new financial year on April 1, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved advancing date for presentation of the General Budget by a month instead of present practice of unveiling it at the end of February.

The Cabinet also approved merging Railway Budget with the general Budget and doing away with distinction of plan and non plan expenditure, officials said.

To facilitate this, the Budget Session of parliament will be called sometime before January 25, a month ahead of the current practice.

Accordingly, the beginning of budget preparation will be advanced to early October and GDP estimates made available on January 7 instead of February 7 now.

Till now Budget was presented on the last day of February and it is not until mid-May that the Parliament approves it in two parts. And with the monsoon arriving in June, most of the schemes and spendings by states do not take off until October, leaving just half a year for their implementation.

Early presentation of Budget would mean that the entire exercise is over by March 31, and expenditure as well as tax proposals come into effect right from the beginning of new fiscal, thereby ensuring better implementation.

Also, the 92 year old practice of presenting a separate budget for Railways has been scrapped and proposals pertaining to it would now form part of the General Budget.

This would lead to presentation of a single Appropriation Bill, including the estimates of Ministry of Railways, thereby saving precious time of Parliament by not having to hold separate consideration and passing of two Appropriation Bills.

The Cabinet also approved removal of distinction between Plan and Non Plan expenditure as the present classification resulted in excessive focus on former with almost equivalent neglect to items such as maintenance which are classified as non Plan.

The Cabinet felt it is the total expenditure, irrespective of Plan or Non-Plan, that generates value for the public. Plan expenditure was for the first time presented separately in the budget for 1959 to 1960.

PTI

NFIR - Highly disappointing Rail Budget

Railway Minster did not make any announcement for making payment of PL Bonus at revised rate of 7000

 NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

Press Statement

Highly disappointing Rail Budget

 

The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) expresses its serious disappointment over the Rail Budget (2016-17) presented by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister in the Parliament on 25th February 2016. According to the President and General Secretary NFIR Shri Guman Singh and Raghavaiah, the Rail Budget document is “towards journey for privatization of Indian Railways in the name of transformation”. It is sad to note that the Railway Minister has not given due recognition to the dedicated services being rendered by various categories of Railway employees who toil hard day and night.

NFIR leaders said that the Rail Budget is totally uninspiring and on the contrary generating resentment among Railway employees as the aim of the Budget is to “aggressively implement privatization, outsourcing” of regular Railway activities.

NFIR expressed its unhappiness as the commitments given by the previous Railway Ministers thro’ Budget announcements have not been fulfilled notably: Free Medical treatment to the dependant parents of Railway employees and construction of New Railway quarters under the corporate welfare plan drawn up years back by the Railway Ministry. The announcement of previous Railway Ministers on the floor of the Parliament that “House for all” has unfortunately been forgotten.

It is quite disappointing that although the Bonus Act has been amended w.e.f. 01.10.4.2014 for calculation of Bonus rates to Rs. 7000/- p.m., the Railway Minster did not make any announcement for making payment of PL Bonus to Railway employees at revised rate of Rs. 7000/- p.m. for the year 2014-15.

NFIR said that the condition of Railway colonies and Railway quarters are totally deteriorated. The Rail Budget has not addressed this welfare aspect adequately.

The Federation expresses its anguish over the failure of Railway Ministry in filling up vacancies of 2.5 lakh vacancies in Railways, out of which over 1.5 lakh vacancies belong to safety categories.

The Federation also expresses its unhappiness over the non-allocation of adequate resources for improving the Railway Hospitals, Health Units and creating Super Specialty facilities atleast in the Zonal Railway Hospitals. The long pending demand of NFIR for making provision of Road Mobile Medical Vans for ensuring Medical treatment to the Railway employees working at remote places, jungle areas, has not been given due priority in the Rail Budget.

NFIR is also of the view that the Rail Budget has not satisfied any section of people.

sd/-
(Dr.M.Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR

Ministry of Railways Invites Suggestions from the Public Regarding the Forthcoming Railway Budget 2016-17

Ministry of Railways Invites Suggestions from the Public Regarding the Forthcoming Railway Budget 2016-17

Ministry of Railway has invited suggestions from the public regarding the forthcoming Railway Budget 2016-17. The suggestions can be given online on the website of Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) with the URL http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/. The icon with the Title “Public Suggestions on Forthcoming Railway Budget 2016-17” is available on the home page itself on the website.

The suggestions can be given on 15 Heads(with many sub heads) namely Computerization, Electrical, Electrification of lines, Finance, Foot over Bridges, Freight (Traffic Requirements Sidings, Rake Handling facility), Infrastructure(Freight Corridors, High Speed Corridors, Port and Mine Connectivity, PPP Initiatives), Innovative Ideas, Land(Commercial Utilisation of land, Station Development), Railway Lines(New Lines, Gauge conversion, Doubling, Doubling), Road over/ Under Bridges, Suggestions on Crime prevention, Suggestions on Safe running of Trains/Disaster Management, Tourism Related, Trains(New Trains, Extension of Trains, Augmentation of Trains, Frequency of Trains, Tourist Trains, Pantry Cars & Catering)

The last date of submission is 15th January, 2016.

Operation Five Minutes – Now Unreserved Ticketing on your Mobile Phone

‘Operation Five Minutes’ – Now Unreserved Ticketing on your Mobile Phone

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Railways

22-April, 2015

Suresh Prabhu Launches Mobile App for Paperless Unreserved Ticketing

Fulfilling yet another commitment of the Railway Budget 2015-16, the Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched Mobile Application for Paperless Unreserved Ticketing through video conferencing on Egmore–Tambaram Suburban Section of Chennai, at a function here today. Referring his Railway Budget announcement, the Railway Minister said that for the passenger, the Indian Railways is committed to ‘Operation Five Minutes’ – that is, purchase of an unreserved ticket within five minutes and today’s launching of Paperless Unreserved Mobile Ticket is the first step in this area. He said that it will allow the passenger to buy a ticket on the move and allow him or her to board the train with the ticket secured on his or her mobile phone, without any need for printing the ticket. Shri Suresh Prabhu commended all the members of CRIS to develop the Paperless Unreserved Ticketing Mobile Application and hoped for speedy implementation of other IT projects in the pipeline. The railway Minister said that the innovative ideas are always welcome and said that he has set up ‘Kayakalp’ Council which will consider innovative ideas for the betterment of Indian Railways. He said that Shri Suresh Prabhu also unveiled the plaque for the foundation of the Indian Railways Datacentre in Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), an IT wing of Indian Railways, which will provide state-of-the art facilities to house the required computer equipment. Shri Prabhu said that he would expect this new building to be environmental friendly and called upon the officials to complete the construction of this building before scheduled deadline ensuring quality with less cost.

Speaking on the, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K.Mital said that CRIS, a IT arm of Indian Railways since 1986, has proved capable of managing large railway-wide IT applications such as Passenger Reservation System, Unreserved Ticketing System and Freight Operations Information System. He said that over the years, CRIS has implemented other centralised applications such as Control Officer Application, Crew Management System and Integrated Coaching Management System. Shri Mital said that with CRIS taking up the challenge of developing and implementing these large system, the Indian Railways will see a sea-change in the effectiveness and utilisation of its assets, cutting down cost and improving its services.
Member Traffic, Railway Board, Shri Ajay Shukla said that the Unreserved Ticketing System is an important revenue generating system developed by CRIS. He said that nearly two crore passengers obtain unreserved tickets daily through nearly 11470 counters and 5836 locations generating about Rs. 52 crore of revenue per day. He congratulated CRIS for successfully developing Application App for paperless unreserved ticketing system on Indian Railways.

To move forward in line with digital India, Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has developed a paperless Unreserved Ticketing feature in Mobile Application “utsonmobile” both for Android and Widows platforms. This will eliminate the need for printing of Unreserved Tickets on ATVMs at the stations. User can download ‘App’ from Google Play Store or Window Store.

The application is being rolled out as a pilot between Chennai Egmore & Tambaram suburban Section of Southern Railway covering 15 stations. For paperless ticketing, GPS co-ordinates of suburban railway track on the Chennai Egmore-Tambaram section, plus 15 meters on either side of the tracks have been earmarked as Geo-Fencing area within which no ticket booking is allowed in order to ensure that passengers have ticket before commencing the journey. After implementation of paperless ticketing, facility of printing paper ticket at ATVM will not be available on Chennai-Egmore to Tambaram Section.

The application provides necessary on-screen alerts to guide the passenger during the booking process. Payment for the ticket is done through the “Railway Wallet” feature in the “App”. After booking the ticket, the passenger will get the ticket confirmation screen which contains limited information of the ticket. The paperless journey ticket will be stored in the local mobile application database in the encrypted form which cannot be tampered with. The passenger has to start the journey within 1 hour as per policy for suburban sections. Ticket booked in paperless mode cannot be cancelled in order to prevent claiming of refund after travel.
The ticket has distinct colour scheme everyday and it is embedded with Quick Response (QR) code. It cannot be forwarded to another mobile or edited or printed. The old invalid tickets will be removed from the mobile device through a sync feature in the ‘App’.

For the purpose of ticket checking, the application has various features such as colour scheme, show ticket features, secret code of the day, booking time of the ticket and scrolling of legend “IR UNRESERVED TICKETING’. In case of mobile in disconnected mode, it will be checked through QR Code.

The Indian Railways Datacentre will be a new building in the premises of existing CRIS office. Indian Railways depends heavily on Information Technology for its customer facing commercial activities, train operations, and internal management. Critical IT applications run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year, to support Railway operations. These applications cannot be shut down for even a minute on account of any outage of power or cooling.

Sensitive computer equipment used by these IT applications such as high-end servers, storage, network switches etc. needs a controlled environment with precision air-conditioning, uninterruptible power supply (UPPS) , adequate network bandwidth, fire suppression, access control and comprehensive security/surveillance.

The existing datacenters of Indian Railways are nearing their fully capacity. As the number of critical applications increases, this capacity needs to be expanded and the infrastructure brought in line with global standards. To achieve this, the IR Datacentre in CRIS has been planned to ensure state of the art infrastructure for continuous power, precision cooling and protection to the equipment. Complete redundancy and physical security will be provided in the datacenter facilities through the latest technologies in this area. A secure Internet gateway with high bandwidth datacom circuits already exists, and will be expanded further.

The Indian Railways Datacentre can also cater to its PSUs and will help Railways to provide better services to its customers and management.

PIB

Pre-Rail Budget Meeting of the Railway Federations with Hon’ble MoSR

Pre-Rail Budget Meeting of the Railway Federations with Hon’ble MoSR
No.AIRF/60

Dated: February 23, 2015

The General Secretaries,
All Affiliated Unions,
Dear Comrades,

Sub: Pre-Rail Budget Meeting of the Railway Federations with Hon’ble MoSR

Today Presidents and General Secretaries/Secretary Generals of all the Recognized Federations of the Railwaymen met Hon’ble MoSR and handed him over following significant suggestions for including the same in the forthcoming Rail Budget 2015-16:-

The government is concerned about the safety and welfare of its workers and officers, serving round-the-clock to transport passengers and freight from one end to other end of the country.
The following burning issues may be considered favourably:-

• Maintenance/repair cost of more than 60% over-aged staff quarters has gone considerably higher. As such, present allotment of budget for maintenance of railway quarters may be increased by 30%. Please take steps to improve the condition of the Drivers/Guards Running Rooms, Barracks, TTEs Rest Rooms, Subordinate Rest Houses also.
• Smart Card Medical Facilities are requested to be extended to all the Railwaymen.
• Vacancies of Safety Category posts may be filled-up in the larger interest of safe-rail operation.
• Scope of the LARSGESS for Safety Categories, which has been found to be very useful, may be extended to all Group `C’ categories.
• The government proposes to introduce “House and Education for all”. For this purpose, vacant railway land at various stations may be utilized, and the Ministry of Urban Development be approached to construct houses for the Railwaymen, and easy home loans may be provided through the Banks and Railway Schemes.
• The government has decided to open Medical and Engineering Colleges, Universities for the children of its workforce. The same may be extended to the Railwaymen as well.
• The government is concerned about the welfare of the Railwaymen and their families and dependants. Parents of the Railwaymen may be granted Railway Pass and Medical facilities.
• Quasi-administrative staff, working in the Federation/Union Offices, who are availing Railway Pass and Medical facilities may kindly be absorbed in the Railways.
• As the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways has already written a letter to the then Hon’ble Finance Minister to implement Old Pension Scheme in place of National Pension Scheme(NPS), and for that it has also been written that financial provisions will be made by the Railways itself. Therefore, it is requested that provisions for the same should be made in this Rail Budget.
• Repealing of RPF Amendment Act, 2001 should be implemented to give powers to the RPF.
• Railway Federations and Associations have been expressing their concern on outsourcing and FDI in the Railways. This has been considered by the government, and the Hon’ble Prime Minister has already announced that there is no intention for privatization of the Indian Railways. Keeping in view prevailing cordial industrial relations, it is requested to re-call the instructions of the government on FDI in the Indian Railways.

Yours faithfully,

(Shiva Gopal Mishara)
General Secretary

Source: http://www.nrmu.net

Railways: Know how the Railway budget will be this year?

Know how the Railway budget will be this year?

Sources Said: The Narendra Modi government’s first full-fledged railway budget to be announced on February 26 could be a muted exercise with no big-ticket announcements of new projects or railway lines, as has been the practice. Rationalisation of passenger fares or freight rates is also unlikely, according to sources.

However, what is likely is a focus on infrastructure creation in the northeast and improving passenger amenities such as introduction of vacuum toilets and dedicated freight services for farmers. The new railway minister, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, will lay greater emphasis on early and timely completion of all big existing projects rather than on new announcements.

According to officials who are part of this year’s budget preparations, the minister, who has a reputation for being a doer, might not tinker with fares or freight rates. A committee headed by D K Mittal, former secretary, financial services, has recommended an increase of two-paise per km in passenger fare. “The main thrust will be to increase the share of railways in the overall freight traffic, which is sliding at a fast rate,” said a senior official, who participated in some of the prebudget discussions.

The railway budget will not have announcements of too many new lines or projects – as is done every year based on political considerations – said another senior official from the rail ministry, who did not wish to be named. “These projects become an economic liability on us. So this time, the ministry is not entertaining specific requests for rail lines from members of Parliament (MPs),” he added. The first official said a key focus area in the coming railway budget could be infrastructure creation in north-eastern parts of the country, where a large number of projects are due for completion or about to take off in states such as Meghalaya and Mizoram. Prime Minister Modi had, during a tour to the north-eastern states in December 2014, announced Central funding for new railway lines in the region. “This is the best destination for tourists. But for that we require connectivity. For the development of this area and tourism, Rs 28,000 crore will be provided for a new railwayline project and 14 new railway lines,” he had said. According to officials, the overall thrust of the budget could also be on exploring and listing alternative sources of funding for the Indian Railways as the current traditional sources of non-Budgetary support including Indian Railways Finance Corporation bonds have been found to be inadequate.

The rail ministry has already decided to tap foreign pension funds as part of its resource mobilisation plan to bailout the Railways from its financial woes. “We will invite foreign pension funds to invest in Indian Railways. This could be in the form ofloans at a cheaper rate.

We have to bring in investments both from within and outside the country,” Prabhu had said last month. Prabhu, who took over as railway minister from Sadananda Gowda on November 10, 2014, will present his maiden rail budget in Parliament at a time the transporter is facing cost overruns to the tune of Rs1.11 lakh crore across 288 projects, Rs 30,000 crore annual losses on passenger service that is crosssubsidised with freight resulting into loss of freight market share; rising expenditure on fuel and pay for employees, dip in passenger volumes, slow progress of privatepublic partnership (PPP) projects and a lack of upgradation of infrastructure leading to accidents. Gowda, while presenting the railway budget in July 2014, had not touched fares but promised a turnaround through infusion of private investment and monetising railways ‘ vast land assets. Gowda’s budget also had fewer populist measures than other ministers in the past..

Source: News paper article published in FE

AIRF secretary writes a letter to Railway Minister in protest against the Railway Budget

Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra GS/AIRF has written letter to Railway Minister in protest against the Railway Budget.

A.I.R.F
All India Railwaymen’s Federation

4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi.-110055

D.O.No. AIRF/60

Dated: July 14, 2014

Resp. Shri Sadananda Gowda Ji,

Sub: Rail Budget 2014-15

We are very much pained and constrained on the Rail Budget 2014-15, presented by you in the floor of the Lok Sabha.

I had given you a memorandum consisting of suggestions related to Rail Budget, but unfortunately none of them could get place in this Rail Budget, and by and large there is nothing motivational and inspiring for the Railwaymen in the said Rail Budget. This has happened after a long time.

Moreover, direction of the said Rail Budget is towards privatization, and the announcement of Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) in the Railways has created lot of resentment among the Railwaymen. All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF) in its General Council Meeting, held at Chennai on 3-4 July, 2014, unanimously adopted a resolution to oppose all kinds of privatization in the Railways.

AIRF is a recognized federation and having a wider support among 13 lakh Railway employees. We always expect from the Railway Board that before making any announcement, which may change the face/ownership of the Railways, the matter must be discussed transparently with the Federation. But in the matter of FDI and PPP, no discussion has been made with the recognized federations.

If any decision detrimental to the interest of Railway Industry, Railwaymen in particular and the Rail users in general, takes place, we will have no other alternative, but to organize sustained struggle to save the Indian Railways.

In this Rail Budget, something also has been said about the Restructuring of the Railways. Earlier also there had been similar talks of Railway Restructuring through Rakesh Mohan and Prakash Tandan Committees and also under various modes.

We know that, the Planning Commission in the past also tried to privatize the Indian Railways but they could not do so because of pressure from the Railway workers as well as rail users.

I know that, as “Opposition”, at that time, the BJP had also opposed the idea of Privatization and FDI. There should not be any change in that stand on coming into power.

Since lot of demoralization and de-motivation are going down the line among the Railway employees, who are very sensitive and working round-the-clock to keep operative country’s lifeline. It would be appreciated, if a dialogue is organized with the recognized federations, representing 13 lakh Railway employees, at an earliest to clarify various issues, taking the Railways to a different direction.

I do hope, you will take this communication in a very justify perspective because the AIRF throughout the years, after 1974, has tried to maintain industrial peace and still stands for the same, but such announcements may create a breach of industrial peace.

Therefore, an early dialogue is requested.

With kind regards!
Yours Sincerely,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary

Source : AIRF

AIRF is greatly disappointed with Rail Budget 2014-15

 AIRF is greatly disappointed with Rail Budget 2014-15

ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN'S FEDERATION
4,State Entry Raod, New Delhi - 1100055

RAIL BUDGET DISAPPOINTS THE RAILWAYMEN

New Delhi: 8th July. 2014 — Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF), has described Rail Budget 2014-15 as “Disappointing”.

This budget has not given any relief to 13 lakh Railway employees, working 24 hrs., 365 days in all weathers, facing arduous conditions, even sacrificing their lives.

The said budget has also given lot of indications of privatization, bringing in FDI and PPP in the Railways, which would be detrimental for the Interest of all the stakeholders, including the rail users.

In this budget, announcement has also been made about the introduction of new trains, but without developing infrastructure and adding manpower, which would endanger Railway Safety.

The budget talks less about the Common Rail User, but much about the Affluent Class, who can afford AC Class travelling.

Shri Mishra has made it amply clear that would not tolerate any  form of privatization in the Railways.

sd/-
(R.K.Mishra)
For General Secretary / AIRF

Source: AIRF

Railway Budget to focus on passenger amenities

Railway Budget to focus on passenger amenities

Keeping passenger amenities and comfort as its top priorities, railways have proposed a new design coach with improved furnishings and house keeping scheme in coaches in the Rail Budget 2014-15.

The national transporter is also proposing to introduce intensive mechanised cleaning of coaches, clean train station scheme and comprehensive pest and rodent control treatment as part of measures to provide a comfortable journey to passengers.

Source: PTI

AIRF highlighted genuine demands of Railway Employees for Railway Budget 2014-15

AIRF highlighted genuine demands of Railway Employees for Railway Budget 2014-15

Railway Budget 2014-15 – Suggestions of AIRF

All India Railwaymen’s Federation
4, State Entry Road,
New Delhi – 110055

No.AIRF/60

Dated: June 28, 2014

Hon’ble Minister for Railways,
Ministry of Railways,
(Government of India),
New Delhi

Respected Sir,
Sub: Rail Budget 2014-15 – AIRF’s suggestions

All India Railwaymen’s Federation(AIRF), the largest federation of the Ministry of Railways, would like to place following general and genuine demands of the Railwaymen and their dependents for inclusion in the forthcoming Rail Budget 2014-15.

1. The former Hon’ble Minister for Railways had made a number of announcements in regard to various Welfare Schemes while presenting successive Rail Budgets, that include opening of Medical Colleges, Nursing Colleges, Central Schools, Technical Institutions etc. was made. In addition. In addition, “Own Your House Scheme” and provision of Mobile Medical Van for treatment of Railway Staff and their families posted on roadside station, was also announced by them for the Railwaymen. It is unfortunate that the above schemes have yet not been seen the light of the day due to one reason or the other and no proper budget allocation is made for implementation of the same.

Ref.: (i) Para 32 of Hon’be MR’s Rail Budget Speech for the year 2009-10 in respect of setting up of Nursing College and Medical Colleges.
Ref.: (ii) Para 50 of Hon’be MR’s Rail Budget Speech for the year 2010-11 – Setting up of hospitals and educational institutions on surplus railway land.
Ref.: (iii) Para 61 of Hon’be MR’s Rail Budget Speech for the year 2011-12 in respect of setting up of Polytechnics
With a view to secure trust and believe of more than 13 lakh Railwaymen in the Railway Ministry, it would be quite appropriate that necessary budgetary provision is ensured in the forthcoming Rail Budget for the year 2014-15, so that there is some visible progress in this regard.

2. Extension of LARSGESS
The “Liberalized Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment of Safety Staff” (LARSGESS) was introduced in the year 2010, modifying the “Safety Related Voluntary Retirement Scheme” in vogue, that came into effect in the year 2005.
This LARSGESS Scheme has been working quite successfully and satisfactorily in maintaining safety standards on the Indian Railways and has equally been found economically viable also, as such the scope of this scheme needs to be extended to cover all Safety Categories Staff working in GP up Rs.4600.

3. Improvement in the condition of Railway Colonies, roads and Running/Rest Rooms
A large number of Railway quarters are over-aged and their maintenance/repair is not practicable due to abnormally high cost. Due to paucity of sufficient funds, neither proper maintenance/repair of the Railway quarters is being managed nor new quarters built in replacement of the old-aged ones. The roads and drainage system in the Railway Colonies is also in very depleted condition. Similar is the condition of most of the Drivers/Guard’s Running Rooms, TTEs Rest Rooms, Subordinate Rest Houses and Rest Rooms for other Railways staff, as a result of which, these staff are not able to take proper rest therein.
Adequate funds needs to be allocated for improvement in the condition of Railway Colonies, Running Rooms, Rest Houses, Rest Rooms etc. as also for provision of separate Ladies Running Rooms/Rest Rooms, Toilets and Change Room for Women Railway Employees.

4. Improvement in medical facilities
Railway Health Services are getting deteriorated day-by-day due to non-availability of adequate number of Railway doctors, paramedical staff and infrastructure. Even life saving medicines are at times not being provided to Railway beneficiaries on account of paucity of resources. Proper allocation of funds for overall improvement in Railway Health Services is, therefore, required to be made so as to engage Specialist Doctors, paramedical staff and availability of proper quality of medicines, particularly life saving medicines from reputed firms. Sufficient number of specialized private or semi-government hospitals are also required to be recognized for treatment of Railway beneficiaries at all important stations.

The already announced “Smart Card” facility for getting cashless treatment in recognized hospitals has not yet been implemented despite lapse of sufficient time, as such this facility be introduced immediately for all existing and retired Railway employees so that they are able to get hassle-free treatment in emergency.
In the wake of present Central Government’s scheme to open Medical Colleges in all the district hospitals, all the Divisional Hospitals in the Railways should also be considered for opening of Associated Medical Colleges, wherein facilities available in this hospitals, like doctors, paramedical staff and other medical facilities can be made use of, because the Divisional Hospitals mostly cover more than one district.
There should be no age bar for getting treatment from the Railway Hospitals/Referral Hospitals for the wards of the Railwaymen, and the same should continue till marriage of the daughter or employment of the son without any age limit.

5. Filling up of Safety Category Posts
It is seen that despite several assurances by the Ministry of Railways, around 1.5 lakh Safety Category Posts always remain unfilled, which is a potential danger to the safety of rail operation. Some new mechanism, therefore, needs to be developed to fill up at least vacancies in the Safety Categories in a time bound manner, wherein priority needs to be given to the wards of the Railwaymen. This procedure was in vogue in the early 1990s

6. Extension of facilities of Privilege/Complimentary Passes
It may be recalled that, one of the former Hon’ble Ministers for Railways had announced to extend the benefit of Privilege/Complimentary Pass to both the parents of the Railwaymen and the officers, but the same is yet to be implemented. In case of Defence employees and other enterprises, both the parents are entitled to avail the facility of free travel, but not in the Railways, which is the largest transport system in our country. This needs to be implemented forthwith.

The facility of Post Retirement Complimentary Passes is being denied to all those Railway employees who could not complete 20 years of Qualifying Service due to their late entry in the Railways, either appointed on compassionate ground or absorption of Coolies, employment of Ex. Servicemen in Railways. Since all these appointments are made under special circumstances, the condition of minimum Qualifying Service of 20 years needs to be relaxed for such employees.

The age limit for entitlement of Passes also needs to be enhanced for dependent son in the present social scenario until they get employment, without any age bar.

7. Revision of New Pension Scheme
During the course of negotiations held with the Railway Board on 07.02.2014 on the 36-point Charter of Demands of the AIRF for Railway Strike, it was unanimously agreed that New Pension Scheme will be replaced with “Old/Guaranteed Pension Scheme” for those employed on or after 01.01.2004 on Indian Railways on the pattern of Defence personnel. The former Hon’ble MR had, therefore, taken up this issue with the Ministry of Finance also. Suitable measures be announced to meet the agreement arrived at between the Staff Side and the Railway Board.

8. Absorption of Quasi-Administrative Staff in the Railways
The Quasi-Administrative Staff employed on the Indian Railways be regularized and Railway Board may be instructed to restore the scheme for Quasi-Administrative Offices as being allowed in case of Railway Officers for engaging TADK/Bungalow Peon.

9. Provision of proper infrastructure and manpower while introducing new trains
New trains are being introduced as a regular measure without providing proper infrastructure and adequate manpower, resulting in increasing workload has become a safety hazard, owing to shortage of staff and improper infrastructure. Therefore, no new trains be introduced until proper infrastructure and adequate manpower is made available for running the same.
With kind regards!

sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
General Secretary

Source : AIRF

Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14: Central Government Railway Employees

Highlights of Railway Budget 2013-14

Ministry of Railways 

26-February, 2013 14:23 IST

• 67 new Express trains to be introduced
  
• 26 new passenger services, 8 DEMU services and 5 MEMU services to be introduced
  
• Run of 57 trains to be extended
  
• Frequency of 24 trains to be increased
  
• First AC EMU rake to be introduced  on Mumbai suburban network in 2013-14
  
• 72 additional services to be introduced in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata
  
• Rake length increased from 9 cars to 12 cars for 80 services in Kolkata and 30 services in Chennai
  
• 500 km new lines, 750 km doubling, 450 km gauge conversion targeted in 2013-14
  
• First ever rail link to connect Arunachal Pradesh
  
• Some Railway related activities to come under MGNREGA
  
• For the first time 347 ongoing projects identified as priority projects with the committed funding
  
• Highest ever plan outlay of Rs. 63,363 crore
  
• Loan of Rs. 3000 crore repaid fully.
  
• A new fund-Debt Service Fund set up to meet committed liabilities.
  
• Freight loading of 1047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13
  
• Passenger growth 5.2% in 2013-14
  
• Gross Traffic Receipts – Rs. 1,43,742 crore i.e. an increase of 18,062 crore over RE, 2012-13
  
• Dividend payment estimated at Rs. 6,249 crore
  
• Operating Ratio to be 87.8% in 2013-14
  
• Supplementary charges for super fast trains, reservation fee, clerkage charge, cancellation charge and tatkal charge marginally increased
  
• Fuel Adjustment Component linked revision for freight tariff to be implemented from 1st April 2013
  
• Enhanced reservation fee abolished
  
• Elimination of 10797 Level Crossings (LC) during the 12th Plan and no addition of new LCs henceforth
  
• Introduction of 160/200 kmph Self Propelled Accident Relief Trains
  
• ‘Aadhar’ to be used for various passenger and staff related services
  
• Internet ticketing from 0030 hours to 2330 hours
  
• E-ticketing through mobile phones
  
• Project of SMS alerts to passengers providing updates on reservation status
  
• Next –Gen e-ticketing system to be rolled out : capable of handling 7200 tickets per minute against 2000 now,  1.20 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 now
  
• Introduction of executive lounge at 7 more stations: Bilaspur, Visakhapatnam, Patna, Nagpur, Agra, Jaipur and Bengaluru
  
• Introduction of ‘Azadi Express’ to connect places associated with freedom movement
  
• Four companies of women RPF personnel set up and another 8 to be set up to strengthen the security of rain passengers, especially women passengers
  
• 10% RPF vacancies being reserved for women
  
• 1.52 lakh vacancies being filled up this year out of which 47000 vacancies have been earmarked for weaker sections and physically challenged
  
• Railways to impart skills to the youth in railway related trades in 25 locations
  
• Provision of portable fire extinguishers in Guard-cum-Brake Vans, AC Coaches and Pantry Cars in all trains
  
• Pilot project on select trains to facilitate passengers to contact on board staff through SMS/phone call/e-mail for coach cleanliness and real time feedback
  
• Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains
  
• Providing free Wi-Fi facilities on several trains
  
• Upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected
  
• Introduction of an ‘Anubhuti’ coach in select trains to provide excellent ambience and latest facilities and services
  
• 179 escalators and 400 lifts at A-1 and other major stations to be installed facilitating elderly and differently-abled
  
• Affixing Braille stickers with layout of coaches including toilets, provision of wheel chairs and battery operated vehicles at more stations and making coaches wheel-chair friendly
  
• Centralized Catering Services Monitoring Cell set up with a toll free number (1800 111 321)
  
• Complimentary card passes to recipients of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Dhyan Chand Awards to be valid for travel by 1st Class/2nd AC
  
• Complimentary card passes to Olympic Medalists and Dronacharya Awardees for travel in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
  
• Travel by Duronoto Trains permitted on all card passes issued to sportspersons having facility of travel by Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
  
• Facility of complimentary card passes valid in 1st class/2nd AC extended to parents of posthumous unmarried awardees of Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and policy medal for Gallantry
  
• Policy Gallantry awardees to be granted one complimentary pass every year for travel along with one companion in 2nd AC in Rajdhani/Shatabadi Trains
  
• Passes for freedom fighters to be renewed once in three years instead of every year.
  
• Setting up of six more Rail Neer bottling plants at Vijayawada, Nagpur, Lalitpur, Bilaspur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad
  
• Setting up of a multi-disciplinary training institute at Nagpur for training in rail related electronics technologies
  
• Setting up of a centralized training institute at Secunderabad--Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management
  
• Five fellowships in national universities to be instituted to motivate students to study and undertake research on Railway related issues at M.Phil and Ph.D. levels
  
• Fund allocation for staff quarters enhanced to Rs. 300 crore
  
• Provision of hostel facilities for single women railway employees at all divisional headquarters
  
• Provision of water closets and air conditioners in the locomotive cabs to avoid stress being faced by loco pilots

MKP/Samir/BS

(Release ID :92504)

Source: PIB

Prime Minister's statement on the Railway Budget

PM's statement on the Railway Budget

The Minister for Railways has done a commendable job in meeting competing demands of improving and increasing services for commuters and controlling expenditure of his department. It is a reformist and forward looking Budget which presents a realistic picture of Railway finances. I compliment him for his innovations in critical areas of Railway infrastructure and paving the way for capacity expansion.

Source: PIB

AIRF’s proposal for Railway Budget 2013-14.

AIRF’s proposal for Railway Budget 2013-14.

ALL INDIA RAIWAYMEN’S FEDERATION

 

D.O.No.AIRF/60              

 

Dated: January 30, 2013

 

Respected Shri Bansal Ji,

 

Sub: Proposals for the Rail Budget 2013-14

 

All India Railwaymen’s  Federation, the oldest and largest organization of the Railwaymen in India, takes this privilege to  put-forth the following important proposals with the hope that the same would receive due consideration in the Rail Budget 2013-14, which not only help moral boosting of  the Railwaymen, but also improve upon the Railway Industry as a whole:

 

1. Educational Facilities for the children of Railwaymen 

Educational Institutions in majority are being run by the private  entrepreneurs, with the result that,not only higher education but also education up to Intermediate level is day-by-day becoming beyond the reach of common Railwayman in general and were particularly the low paid  Railway Staff. Taking this aspect into consideration, the then Hon’ble Minister for Railways had made proposals in the Rail Budget to open Central School, Technical Education Institutions and Medical Institutions on railway land to provide better educational facilities to Railwaymen’s  children on the persuasion of AIRF.

 

These proposals could not be materialized due to financial crunch, as such there is glaring need to provide adequate funds for this purpose.

2. Medical Facilities 

The existing medical facilities are quite inadequate, particularly because of shortage of Railway doctors and paramedical staff, besides inadequacy of infrastructure facility of Mobile Medical Vans was, therefore, thought of to provide medical facilities for the staff and their family members posted on roadside stations and remote areas. Again, due to financial crunch, this proposal has not been implemented as yet. Adequate budget allotment for provision of at least 6-7 Mobile Medical Vans in each division may, therefore be done in the Rail Budget 2013-14.2

 

3. Extension of LARSGESS Scheme 

The safety of Rail operation  is  supreme for all of us. The safety related Voluntary Retirement Scheme was, therefore, introduced for the staff of Safety categories, initially for Trackman and Loco Pilots after though consideration of all the related aspects. The scope of this scheme with modified  nomenclature of LARSGESS was subsequently extended covering all the safety staff in Grade Pay Rs. 1800 and Rs 1900 sustained  persuasion of AIRF. This scheme further needs extension of scope covering all the staff working up to Grade Pay of Rs 4200 and Rs 4600 and the appointment of the wards under this scheme be made on the basis of  compassionate  ground  appointment, appointment of medically de-categorized staff and the children of land losers, so that young blood are inducted in the safety categories for safe operation of trains.

 

4. Staff Benefit Fund 

The fund allotted under this head is used for several welfare activities of Railwaymen including Women Empowerment, Education assistance to girl- child of low paid staff etc. The per capita allotment is still inadequate as such needs to be enhanced to Rs. 800/- in the ensuing Rail Budget.

 

5. Maintenance of Railway Quarters and Colonies 

During the last few years a conation of Railway Quarters and Colonies has destroyed rustically because of non availability of adequate fund, as a result of which,  the residence of Railway employees and his family members continue to face adequate hardship on this account. With this view, to provide some relief to them, adequate fund allotment may be ensured during the current Budget so that maintenance and up keep of Railway quarters and colonies is possible. Here it is worth mentioning that in CPWD, per quarter maintenance cost has been provided Rs.35,000(Thirty Five  Thousand) in  comparison  to  the Railways of Rs.10,000(Rupees Ten Thousand ) which also does not use to be spent. Our demand for  Maintenance  Allowance to cover minor repairs/white washing/painting of quarters should also be considered.

 

6. Absorption of Quasi-Administrative Staff in the Railways 

The issue of absorption of quasi-administrative offices staff in the Railways was raised by the AIRF several times in various Negotiating Fora, but unfortunately, up-till now, nothing has been done in this regard. We also brought their apathies before your goof-self. Absorption of quasi-administrative offices staff in the Railways will not only help their regularization in the Railways but also Railways will get a trained manpower.

 

7. Appointment of substitutes at DRM’s/CWM’s level to fill up the large number of vacancies 

There continued to remain large numbers of vacancies unfilled, particularly in Safety  Category,which we are of opinion,    is safety hazards. The present system of recruitment through RRC in erstwhile in Group ‘D’ category does not fulfill requirement. As such, the time tested process of engaging substitutes at DRM’s/CWM’s level is to be revised, wherein preference should be given to the wards of Railway employees. This would not only provide employment to the ward of Railway employees but also will help in smooth Rail operations.

 

8. Improvement in Training Facilities 

Indian Railways are progressing towards modernization for providing World  Class service to rail users, for which  technical advancement is  inevitable. Staff are, therefore, required to impart adequate training to educate them. With latest technology, the training facility therefore, needs to be upgraded and modernized to make them capable of imparting adequate training for staff, for which sufficient fund allocation needs to be done in the Rail Budget.

 

9. Privilege passes for Parents 

In almost all the organization, viz. Defense, Airways etc., the parents of the staff  avail the facility of free travel on par with staff, i.e. both father and mother are entitle for free travel to the serving wards. Unfortunately, in Indian Railways, a mother can only avail this facility after death of his husband,which is highly unfair. The Railways should therefore, have gesture to provide privilege passes to father and mother of Railway employees also.

 

10. Creation of posts 

As creation of post is required for maintenance and commercial activities of Railways. Posts  are created on matching saving basis, on account of which, the required number of posts are not created commensurate with the requirement. Due to inadequate Ticket Checking staff, there is remarkable Financial loss because a number of coaches remain unmanned,  providing scope for irregular traveling of the passengers. Similarly, shortage of the maintenance staff does result in a proper maintenance of rolling stock, track and signaling etc., which endangers the safety of train operations.Therefore, there is urgent need of create adequate posts for the above purpose, for which funds allotment would be necessary.

 

11. Non-Introduction of new trains 

It has been observed in all the Rail Budgets that more than 100 new trains use to be introduced and numbers of services use to increase in weekly or by weekly trains without creation of posts and provision of staff and infrastructure which leads stress on staff and safety also use to be endanger. Therefore, it is requested that no new trains should be introduced without creation of staff and  provision of infrastructure. AIRF is confident that the Hon’ble Railway Minister for Railways would give serious consideration to our above proposals to make announcement through the Rail Budget 2013-14.

 

Source : AIRF