Rail budget to increase superfast and tatkal charges
The charges for superfast and tatkal tickets are expected to increase in trains as part of the newly announced union Railway budget.
The Rail Budget 2013 was presented by the Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in the Lok Sabha. The railways is planning to take up 22 new lines during the year and it will also introduce 67 new Express trains, 27 new passenger trains and also increase the distance travelled for 58 trains.
The railway will establish a new debt service fund to arrange for capital for its projects. There is target to build und balance to Rs. 30,000 crore till the 12th Plan. The budget figures showed that the railways achieved an operating ratio of 88.8 per cent. The dividend has been reduced from 5 to 4 per cent and electrification of 1,200 km is set to be completed this year.
Bringing relief to the common man, no passenger fare hike has been included in the budget this year. The figures showed that the department generated Rs. 6,600 crore increase in earnings due to the fare adjustment since Janaury this year.
Overall, the railways is planning to invest Rs. 63,000 crore during the 2013-14 financial year.