Railway & General Budget (India) - 2013-14

[arp2041]

26th Feb (Tuesday), Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal will present his first & UPA's Last Railway Budget.

Followed by Economic Survey on 27th Feb & General Budget on 28th Feb Presented by Mr. P. Chidambaram.

This Budget will be of utmost IMPORTANCE due to following reasons:

1.) It is UPA-2's last Budget before the 2014 General Elections.
2.) Indian Economic Growth is at the Lowest in last 10 years.

Being the last Budget before elections combined with the economic conditions prevailing in India, we can either expect a Reformist Budget or a Budget to offer freebies (to attract voters).

Please Discuss all aspects of this year's Budget Here.

P.S. Mods, i know this is a thread related to Indian Economy, but this year's budget is of great importance to all Indians.

Thanks.

 

[arp2041]

Rail Budget 2013: Fare hike via surcharge likely

The government is likely to announce a slew of passenger-friendly measures in the Rail Budget 2013 when it will be unveiled on Tuesday in Parliament.

Sources told Zee News there will be no direct increase in passenger fares but fuel adjustment charge and other surcharges may be levied. Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had recently told reporters that the increase in diesel prices following the fare hike has negated the additional revenue of Rs 3,300 crore which Railways was expected to mop up.

The aam admi’s wishlist - better quality food, hygiene in toilets and safety for women passengers may get renewed focus in this year’s Rail Budget. As part of the new measures, the Railways may announce pay & use toilet services at 800 stations across the nation.

Importantly, Railways is planning to link train tickets with Aadhaar cards to tackle the menace of touts in bookings. "We are exploring the possibility of linking Aadhaar system with issuing of train tickets and if this happens, the tout menace will be effectively curbed in ticketing system," Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had said last week.

Passengers often do not get tickets in advance as bulk tickets are being cornered by touts. "I have recently met Nandan Nilekani and discussed the issue with him. Our aim is to ensure availability of tickets by genuine passengers as there are complaints of touts booking bulk tickets in the name of tour and travel operators," the minister said.

Tickets with bar codes which will be linked with Adhaar cards of the passenger will also be introduced.

Rail Budget 2013: Fare hike via surcharge likely

 

[Koovie]

Fiscal consolidation should be the most important thing right now, I think the FM is making a good job with his austerity plan.

 

[illusion8]

@arp2041, Rail budget here on PDF? - slow news day?

 

[INDIC]

I am sure, this budget will be better than last years' budget.

 

[arp2041]

@arp2041, Rail budget here on PDF? - slow news day?

Sorry bro, din't get you??

Fiscal consolidation should be the most important thing right now, I think the FM is making a good job with his austerity plan.

But Mr. Chidambaram has to do a fine balancing act with elections on one hand (populist budget??) & pathetic condition of economy on the other (reformist & fiscal consolidation??).

Waiting to see how he achieves this??

 

[Iggy]

A congress minister is presenting the railway budget after 16 years!!

Too bad, they are going to increase the ticket charges due to high diesel price..

I hope there is some significant allocations for freight corridor.. !!

 

[INDIC]

A congress minister is presenting the railway budget after 16 years!!

Too bad, they are going to increase the ticket charges due to high diesel price..

I hope there is some significant allocations for freight corridor.. !!

Railway is cash strapped, its nothing wrong to increase the fare.

 

[illusion8]

Sorry bro, din't get you??



But Mr. Chidambaram has to do a fine balancing act with elections on one hand (populist budget??) & pathetic condition of economy on the other (reformist & fiscal consolidation??).

Waiting to see how he achieves this??

Just wondering the point of discussing an Indian railways budget in a Pakistani defense forum...

 

[Norboo]

1. What happened to Lallu's earthen tumblers that he ordered for use of passengers in trains? (To give employment to the rural pottery makers!)

2. What happened to the so called eco-toilets promised by the previous rail honcho?

3. What happened to Mamta's grandiose plans to convert and upgrade 60 railway stations up to international standards?

Sweet fu@k-all! These rail budgets are a mockery. Just blah, blah, and more blah!

You guys still wanna hear the crap that's going to be dished out tomorrow in the grand rail budget speech? Not me! All the blessed rail minister will do is to increase a gazillion more trains to pander to vote banks. But all this without the necessary and corresponding expansion of the infrastructure to handle them! The makings of a disaster!

 

[Iggy]

Railway is cash strapped, its nothing wrong to increase the fare.

The problem is that, they already announced price hike couple of months ago.. Now again hike in fare wont get too good with people..

 

[arp2041]

Just wondering the point of discussing an Indian railways budget in a Pakistani defense forum...

Mate, had to include it, GOI's yearly Budget is a package deal of Railway Budget + Economic Survey + General Budget, with each being presented one after other.

You can't exclude any one.

Anyways, the focus is on General Budget only.

 

[INDIC]

The problem is that, they already announced price hike couple of months ago.. Now again hike in fare wont get too good with people..

May be unpopular but its needed to fund number of projects.

 

[Iggy]

May be unpopular but its needed to fund number of projects.

Yea, but its a risk since the election is near..

 

[illusion8]

New Bangalore to Chennai double decker train started today.