Salient features of Railway Budget for 2001-2002

The salient features of the Railway Budget for the year 2001-2002 are as follows:-

24 new trains to be introduced

3% increase in freight rates of all commodities, except sugar, edible salt, grains and pulses, edible oils, kerosene, fruit and vegetables, LPG and urea

Freight rates for coal and iron and steel (division a, b and c) not meant for household consumption to be increased by 2%

26 New Lines Survey to be taken up in the year 2001-2002

1% increase in Furnace oil

No increase in rates of parcel and luggage.

Newspapers, magazines and medicines to be exempted

Proposals for adjustment in tariff for freight estimated to generate Rs 500 crore per annum

Changes in rates for classifications to be effective from April 1, 2001.

Concessions available to orthopaedically handicapped and paraplegic persons to be extended to visually handicapped and to mentally handicapped.

No proposal to increase the passenger fares of any class or category of trains

Despite no increase in passenger fares, the earnings from passenger traffic poised to exceed budgeted level - 10 per cent growth registered till December, 2000

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee announced setting up of regional railway museums at Varanasi and Malda. She said that the railway museum in the southern region would be completed shortly.