The Railway budget opened a box of goodies for the common man with special trains and concessions for all sections of society. The budget has focussed on introduction of several new facilities for all class of passengers to ensure comfort backed by safety.

About 50 stations are to be developed into world-class stations with international level facilities. Some of these stations would be CST Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Howrah, Sealdah, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Amritsar, Kanpur, Guwahati and Jaipur. Banerjee said that these would be developed through innovative financing and public-private-partnership (PPP) model.

The ministry would also develop 375 ‘Adarsh (ideal) Stations’ during this financial year with basic facilities such as drinking water, adequate toilets, catering services, waiting rooms, and special dormitories for lady passengers. The Railways has already identified 309 stations to be developed across the country.

“After taking over as railway Minister just few days back, I faced many complaints about deterioration in overall passenger services. Therefore my priority areas will be perceptible improvement in passenger amenities, cleanliness, quality of railway catering, safety and security and punctuality,” Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said.

The budget also proposed to set up multi-functional complexes (MFCs) in station premises for providing rail users facilities like shopping, food stalls and restaurants. The MFCs will also have bookstalls, PCO booths, medicine shops, variety stores, budget hotels and underground parking among other facilities. A total of 50 such railway stations would be developed in places of pilgrimage, industry and tourist interest. On-board infotainment services would be provided on Rajdhanis, Shatabdis and important long distance inter-city trains for a pleasurable travel experience.

Moreover, there will also be focus on improving the cleanliness in trains through modern mechanised automated laundries. The Railways will explore the possibility to depute at least one doctor in long distance trains. Arrangements would be made to provide ambulance services for passenger. The minister said that it envisages the trials of vacuum toilets similar to those used in aircrafts on a few coaches. Field trials are also being conducted for introducing environment friendly green toilets. Toilet facilities will also be introduced where journey is more than two hours.

There would be availability of janta khana (popular food) in railway stations across all zones that would include both regional and national cuisines for the passengers.

On ticketing and reservation, the railway Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which covers 800 locations with 6,827 terminals would cover 200 new towns and cities and further 800 locations. For unreserved tickets, the number of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) terminals is being expanded from 5000 to 8000. In the lines of the air travel, train passengers would be able to avail SMS updates for waiting list. Banerjee said that the Railways would sell tickets from 5,000 post offices across the country. This is the maiden move by railways to introduce 50 mobile rail ticket vans and air-conditioned double-decker coaches for intercity commuters.

The ministry plans to roll out 'Izzat' scheme for offering privileges to people with income levels below Rs 1500 per month, who would be able to avail concessional monthly season ticket of Rs 25 for travel up to 100 kilometres. Minimum Tatkal fee has been reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 100. Tatkal fee will be a part of the fare. Concessions for students were also announced. According to the announcement, the free monthly season tickets for second class travel between school and home for girl students up to graduation and for boy students up to 12th standard will be extended to students attending Madrasa, High Madrasa and senior Madrasa.

Banerjee also announced the introduction of several new trains. Twelve non-stop trains ‘Duronto’ (restless) across select stations are being introduced. Special trains for young Indians will be introduced between major cities to ensure that the youth and low-income groups can travel at low rates between these cities. The fare would be fixed at Rs 299 for distances up to 1500 km and Rs 399 for distances up to 2500 km. ‘Only Ladies’ EMU service train services in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban on the pattern of Mumbai suburban will also be introduced.