MetaBOT at 18:42, 8 July 2023

2023-07-08T18:42:14Z

New page

{{use dmy dates}}
{{use Indian English}}
{{Infobox government budget
| country = India
| previous_budget = 2014 Railway Budget of India
| previous_year = 2014
| next_budget = 2016 Railway Budget of India
| next_year = 2016
| image = Emblem_of_India.svg
| caption = [[Emblem of India]]
| submitter = [[Suresh Prabhu]], [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Railway Minister]]
| presented = 25 February 2015
| parliament = [[Indian Parliament]]
| party = [[Bhartiya Janta Party]]
| url = {{url|http://www.indiabudget.nic.in}}
}}

The '''2015 Railway Budget of India''' refers to the [[Railway Budget]] of the [[Indian Railways]] in the [[fiscal year]] 2015–16. The budget was presented by the Railway Minister [[Suresh Prabhu]] in the [[Indian Parliament|Parliament]] on 26 February 2015.<ref name=AsitRailway>{{cite news|title=As it happened: Railway Budget 2015|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/budget/full-coverage-railway-budget-2015/article6936262.ece |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

==Summary==
No new trains were announced. There were no passenger fare hikes announced. Passengers will be allowed to book tickets up to 120 days in advance, an increase from current 2 months. An initiative called the "Operation 5-minute" was announced which would allow ticket bearer passengers to acquire tickets within 5 minutes of entering a station. [[SMS]] alerts for the arrival and departure of trains will introduced. More general-class coaches would be added to select trains. A centrally managed "Railway Display Network" will be introduced at 2,000 stations to provide train information.<ref name=KeyPointIndianExpress>{{cite news|title=Key features of Railway Budget 2015|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/key-features-of-railway-budget-2015/|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref name=Laud>{{cite news|title=Railway Officials Laud 'Humanistic' Side of Budget|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Railway-Officials-Laud-Humanistic-Side-of-Budget/2015/02/27/article2689081.ece|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref name=FreightHiked>{{cite news|title=Railway Budget 2015: No new trains, no hike in passenger fares, freight hiked|url=http://www.business-standard.com/budget/article/railway-budget-2015-no-new-trains-no-hike-in-passenger-fares-115022600393_1.html|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[Business Standard]]}}</ref><ref name=Passengers/><ref name=CleanAmenities>{{cite news|title=Cleanliness, amenities top list as govt says fare enough|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/cleanliness-amenities-top-list-as-govt-says-fare-enough/48153/|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Financial Express (India)]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227151057/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/cleanliness-amenities-top-list-as-govt-says-fare-enough/48153/|archive-date=27 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

200 stations will be brought under the "Adarsh Station Scheme" and will be given basic amenities like toilets, drinking water, catering services, waiting rooms etc. Under the "Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat" programme professional cleaning agencies will hired to keep trains and stations clean and train staff. 650 stations will be getting new toilets. 17,000 old toilets on trains will be replaced by bio-toilets in 2015, increasing the number of 17,388 existing ones. A 24/7 toll-free system will be introduced, 138 for the helpline and 182 for security issues. Mobile phone charging will be introduced in general-class coaches and the number of charging points in sleeper-classes will be increased.<ref name=MobilePhone>{{cite news|title=Mobile phone charging facilities in General Class, on-board entertainment on some Shatabdis|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mobile-phone-charging-facilities-in-general-class-onboard-entertainment-on-some-shatabdis/530790-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301150540/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mobile-phone-charging-facilities-in-general-class-onboard-entertainment-on-some-shatabdis/530790-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 March 2015|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[IBNLive]]}}</ref><ref name=Passengers>{{cite news|title=Rail Budget 2015: What’s in it for passengers|url=http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/kr8147p879zhjhqYaPqScL/Rail-Budget-2015-Whats-in-it-for-consumers.html|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[Live Mint]]}}</ref>

400 railways stations, including B-category stations, will be provided with [[Wi-Fi]]. [[CCTV camera]]s will installed in select trains and women's-only coaches of suburban trains to ensure the safety of women. [[Shatabdi Express|Shatabdi train]]s would be provided with on-board entertainment. Train collision detection systems will be introduced on selected routes. The number of stations from which passengers can pay a combined train and road ticket will be increased. The numbers of trains in which passengers can order meals and disposable bedrolls at the time of booking tickets to be increased. Differently-abled and senior citizens will be able to book wheelchairs.<ref name=betterservices>{{cite news|title=Technology to be tapped for better services|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/technology-to-be-tapped-for-better-services/article6938908.ece?textsize=large&test=1|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref name=KeyPointIndianExpress/><ref name=WomenCoaches>{{cite news|title=Thumbs-up for CCTV cameras in women's coaches|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/budget-2015/rail-budget-2015/Rail-Budget-2015-Thumbs-up-for-CCTV-cameras-in-womens-coaches/articleshow/46390563.cms|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref name=Passengers/><ref name=Disabled>{{cite news|title=Benefits for disabled, but some unhappy|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150227/jsp/nation/story_5801.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227160602/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150227/jsp/nation/story_5801.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2015|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Telegraph (India)]]}}</ref>

1,38,000 km of tracks will be added in the next 5 years, an increase of 10%. 3,000 unmanned railway crossings will be removed and 917 over or under-bridges will be constructed to replace some of them. Four dedicated [[freight]] corridors will be complete in 2015 and 6608 km of tracks would be electrified. The feasibility study report of the Mumbai and Ahmedabad expected to be submitted in mid-2015. 9 semi-high speed corridors will be introduced with speed up to 200 km/h. The carriages for such trains will be built in India. A push for better connectivity in the [[North-East India]] and [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] was also announced.<ref name=KeyPointIndianExpress/><ref name=Coaches>{{cite news|title=Rail Budget 2015: Railways to build 200-kmph train coaches indigenously|url=http://zeenews.india.com/business/budget-2015/rail-budget-2015-railways-to-build-200-kmph-train-coaches-indigenously_118139.html-0|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[Zee News]]}}</ref><ref name=Cleaner200km>{{cite news|title=Rail Budget 2015: Travel at 200 kmph in a cleaner train|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150227/nation-current-affairs/article/travel-200-kmph-cleaner-train|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name=AsitRailway/>

[[Barcode]] and [[RFID]] tracking of parcels and freight carriages will be introduced.<ref name=betterservices/> The fare of some freight goods were increased. The rate for urea was hiked by 10%, coal by 6.3%, iron ore and steel by 0.8%, cement by 2.7%, and grains and pulses by 10%. However, the rates for limestone, dolomite and manganese ore was reduced by 0.3%, and diesel oil by 1%.<ref name=Hitkey>{{cite news|title=Freight rate hike to hit key commodities|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150227/jsp/business/story_5720.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227141826/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150227/jsp/business/story_5720.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2015|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Telegraph (India)]]}}</ref>

Satellite stations will be built around 10 major stations to reduce congestion and serve the suburbs. Four Railway Research Centres will be introduced in select four universities.<ref name=Passengers/><ref name=AsitRailway/>

The Indian Railway will raise {{currency|17,655|INR}} [[crore]] from the market through its two companies [[Indian Railway Finance Corporation]] (IRFC) and [[Rail Vikas Nigam Limited]] (RVNL). This was a 47% increase from then current fiscal year's revised estimates of {{currency|12,045|INR}} crore. IRFC will try to raise {{currency|17,276|INR}} crore to invest in [[rolling stock]]s. RVNL will try to raise {{currency|376|INR}} [[crore]] by [[money market|market borrowing]]. In the fiscal year 2014-15, according to the revised estimates, IRFC raised {{currency|11,772.60|INR}} crore, and RVNL raised {{currency|273|INR}} crore from the market.<ref name=17655Crore>{{cite news|title=Railways to raise Rs.17,655 crore from borrowing|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/budget/railways-to-raise-rs17655-crore-from-borrowing/article6937795.ece|accessdate=1 March 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Overall {{currency|8,56,020|INR}} crore will be spent on the Railways in the period 2015-19.<ref name=BackonTrack>{{cite news|title=Wanted: Rs 8.56 lakh crore to put railways back on track|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-wanted-rs-856-lakh-crore-to-put-railways-back-on-track-2064563|accessdate=1 March 2015|work=[[DNA India]]}}</ref>

==Responses==

After Railway Minister [[Suresh Prabhu]] presented his maiden budget, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] tweeted: "Rail budget 2015 is a forward looking, futuristic and passenger centric budget, combining a clear vision and a definite plan to achieve it." [[Nitin Gadkari]], the Transport Minister called the budget reformative. [[Smriti Irani]], Human Resource Minister, praised the budget for considering women's safety.<ref name=PMreaction>{{cite news|title=Prime minister's reaction on Railway budget 2015|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/railway-budget-2015-live-blog/1/420889.html|accessdate=26 February 2015|work=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref name=Nitin>{{cite news|title=Rail Budget reformative, will change face of railways: Nitin Gadkari|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/rail-budget-reformative-will-change-face-of-railways-nitin-gadkari/articleshow/46387174.cms|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

[[Rajeev Gowda]], spokesperson of the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) said the budget was leaning towards elites. [[Mallikarjun Kharge]] of INC said that budget did not clarify how revenues will generated to pay for the promises.<ref name=PannedPat>{{cite news|title=Rail Budget: Panned by rivals, Prabhu gets pat from his party|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/congress-criticises-rail-budget-sena-says-completely-dissatisfied/article1-1320868.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226114051/http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/congress-criticises-rail-budget-sena-says-completely-dissatisfied/article1-1320868.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 February 2015|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>

[[Bihar]] Chief Minister [[Nitish Kumar]] said the budget had many lofty ideas but no action plan. He said that fares should have been cut due to fall in international oil prices.<ref name=Nitish>{{cite news|title=Rail budget 2015 full of lofty ideas but no action plan: Nitish Kumar |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/rail-budget-2015-full-of-lofty-ideas-but-no-action-plan-nitish-kumar/articleshow/46383140.cms|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref> [[Odisha]] Chief Minister [[Naveen Patnaik]] expressed disappointment due to lack of any special package towards his state and pointed out that Odisha had a much lower rail density than the national average. He said his state was committed on providing free land and 50% of expenses towards railway projects.<ref name=Odisha>{{cite news|title=Patnaik rues no special package for Odisha|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/naveen-patnaik-rues-no-special-package-for-odisha/article6938857.ece?homepage=true|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

India's stock index [[SENSEX]] fell 261 points, a drop of 0.90%, after the announcements.<ref name=Sensex>{{cite news|title=Rail Budget disappoints markets; Sensex drops over 261 points|url=http://www.thehindu.com/business/rail-budget-disappoints-markets-sensex-drops-over-261-points/article6937135.ece|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Jyotinder Kaur, principle economist at [[HDFC Bank|HDFC]] bank, said that he was unsure of how the funds for the proposals will be gathered as the budget did not mention it.<ref name=IndiaAims>{{cite news|title=India aims to invest $137 billion in railways in next 5 years|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/india-railway-budget-idINKBN0LU0HY20150226|accessdate=27 February 2015|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[2014 Railway Budget]]
* [[2015 Union budget of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web|title=Highlights of the Railway Budget 2015 - 16|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/railbudget/rbudget2015/rh2015.pdf|publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]]}}

{{Union budget of India}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Railway Budgets of India, 2015 in Indian economy, 2015 in rail transport
|description=
}}

[[Category:Railway Budgets of India]]
[[Category:2015 in Indian economy]]
[[Category:2015 in rail transport]]
[[Category:2015 government budgets|Railway Budget of India]]

2015 Railway budget of India - Revision history

MetaBOT at 18:42, 8 July 2023