UNION BUDGET 2017: Railways To Focus On Cost, Social Obligation, Competition

For the first ever time after 1921, the railway budget has been merged in the union budget. This is a departure from the colonion practice that has outlived its utility.

Here are the highlights of the allocations and new initiatives for the Indian Railways:

• Budget allocation for highways stepped up to Rs 64,000 crore in FY18 from Rs 57,676 crore.
• Allocation For Railways at Rs 1.31 lakh crore in financial year 2018
• Proposal To Allocate Rs 1 lakh crore over the next five years for Railway Safety Funds
• By 2019, all coaches of Indian Railways will be fitted with Bio-toilets
• New metro rail policy to be unveiled.
• Railway tariffs to be fixed on the basis of cost, social obligation and competition
• 500 stations will be differently abled by providing lifts and escalators
• Government proposes Coach Mitra facility to redress grievances related to rail coaches