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HIGHEST EVER PLAN INVESTMENT OF RS. 41,426 CRORE IN THE ANNUAL PLAN OUTLAY

The Union Minister for Railways, Km. Mamata Banerjee departs from Rail Bhavan to Parliament House along with her deputies, Shri E. Ahamed and Shri K.H. Muniyappa to present the Rail Budget 2010-11, in New Delhi on February 24, 2010. (Photo by PIB No:CNR-30548)

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(PIB NEWS) The Annual Plan outlay for the year 2010-11 has been proposed at Rs. 41,426 crore, which is the highest even plan investment. Presenting the Railway Budget for the year 2010-11 in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee said that the plan would be finance through Gross Budgetary Support of Rs.15,875 crore, Diesel Cess of Rs. 877 crore, internal resources of Rs. 14,523 crore and Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) of Rs. 10,151 crore including market borrowing through Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) of Rs. 9,120 crore. The Railway Minister said that within the limited resources available, thrust is being given to expansion of the network. She said that to achieve the target of 1,000 kms of new line set for year, the allocation has been increased substantially from Rs. 2,848 crore to Rs. 4,411 crore. Kumari Mamata Banerjee made an allocation of Rs. 1,302 crore for improving passenger amenities as compared to Rs. 923 crore in the previous Railway Budget. Presenting the Budget Estimates for 2010-11, the Railway Minister said that the target for freight loading for the ensuing financial year has been kept at 944 MT, an increase of 54 MT over RE 2009-10. She said that Budget Estimates for freight, passenger, sundry other earnings and other coaching earnings have been kept at Rs. 62,489 crore, Rs. 26,127 crore, Rs. 3,171 crore and Rs. 2,778 crore respectively. A sum of Rs. 200 crore has been kept apart for clearing the outstanding dues of the Railways with an intention to initiate special efforts to clear such dues. The Gross Traffic Receipts have been projected at Rs. 94,765 crore by the Railway Miister.The provision for Ordinary Working Expenses for 2010-11 has been kept at Rs. 65,000 crore which is Rs. 500 crore lower than the Revised Estimates for the previous year. Appropriation to Depreciation Reserve Fund has been kept at Rs. 7,600 crore and Appropriation to Pension Fund at Rs. 14,500 crore in 2010-11. The Total Working Expenses will be Rs. 87,100 crore and Net Revenue Rs. 9,782 crore. After meeting the estimated Dividend liability of Rs. 6,609 crore, the projected ‘Excess’ is Rs. 3,173 crore with the targeted Operating Ratio of 92.3% and the Excess is proposed to be appropriated to Development Fund (Rs. 2,800 crore) and Capital Fund (Rs. 373 crore).
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No increase in passenger fares or freight tariffs,MAMATA

(PIB NEWS) There will not be any increase in the passenger fares of any class or category of trains. Similarly, there will not be any increase freight tariffs. Presenting the Railway Budget for the year 2010-11 in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee said that in the present economic situation, when the country is about to return on a high growth path, she did not wish to impose any burden on the citizens.
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Concessions for,PRESS CORRESPONDENTS,film technicians and cancer patients

(PIB NEWS) The Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee today proposed to enhance the concession to cancer patients upto 100% in 3 AC and Sleeper Class. Presenting the Railway Budget 2010-11 in Parliament, the Minister said at present Railways grant a concession of 75% in 3 AC and Sleeper Class to cancer patients going for treatment, together with an escort. She also proposed that technicians of regional film industry when traveling for film production related work will be eligible for 75% concession in Second Sleeper, 50% concession in First Class, AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier in all trains including Rajdhani/Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdis. Kumari Mamata Banerjee said that Press Correspondents are currently given a concession of 50% for their travel along with spouse, once a year. It is now proposed to extend this concession to companion of those correspondents who do not have a spouse, and dependent children up to 18 years, once a year.
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Archaeological Excavation in Andhra Pradesh

(PIB NEWS) Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Narayanasamy has said that Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is working to strengthen the archaeological excavation work in the State of Andhra Pradesh. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today he said, during the last three years, ASI carried out excavation / scientific clearance works in Andhra Pradesh at (1) Ancient Buddhist Mound, Alluru, District Krishna. (2) Ancient Buddhist Mound, Kotturu, District Visakhapatnam (3) Buddhist Mound, Kodavali, District East Godavari (4) Buddhist Mound, Ghantasala, District Krishna (5) Ancient Mound, Kantamanenivari gudem, District West Godavari and (6) Ancient Mound, Kondapur, District Medak.
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Ministry of I&B calls for caution in coverage of incidents of terrorist attacks

(PIB NEWS) The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India has advised electronic media to exercise caution while providing coverage to the incidents of terrorist attacks. The text of the fresh advisory is as follows: “This is in continuation of the directives issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 27th November 2008 and 3rd December 2008, regarding the coverage of incidents by electronic media during terrorist attacks in Mumbai. In the said directive, TV channels were asked to exercise caution while providing coverage to the incidents to avoid any adverse consequences on the rescue operations. It has also been noted that in the past some TV channels arranged and telecast interviews with terrorists/terrorist groups. In a particular case, a prominent TV channel telecast a phone interview with a dreaded terrorist who tried to internationalize the Kashmir issue using the electronic mass media. This kind of coverage can cause confusion amongst domestic and international audiences. The interviews with terrorists have also provided a platform to them to justify their nefarious activities and obtain coverage on prominent channels which is seen as a major achievement and enabling them to put forward their distorted views to a wide audience. Such undue coverage to terrorists and allowing them to air their views freely can jeopardize national security as well. This matter has been under examination in this Ministry and in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Government has taken a very serious view regarding airing of interviews with terrorists/terrorist groups by TV Channels. While the media has generally played a very constructive role in bringing out relevant issues regarding terrorism and has condemned terrorists for their brutal and ruthless ways, it must, however, be again emphasized that media must continue to cover terrorism and terrorist related issues with great responsibility and sensitivity. In the interests of national security and on the advice of Ministry of Home Affairs, the media is hereby advised to avoid giving undue coverage to terrorists and terrorist groups which may help them to advance their political agenda. Such coverage would amount to gross violation of the provisions of the Programme Code contained in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and Rules framed thereunder.”
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Coaching to Minority Students

(PIB NEWS) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has provided coaching under (i) ‘Remedial coaching at Undergraduate and Post-graduate levels’, (ii) Coaching for Entry in services and (iii) Coaching to prepare for National Eligibility Test (NET) or State Eligibility Test (SET) for lectureship’, during the Xth Plan for beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities in the country. From the XIth Plan onwards the UGC coaching schemes for minorities have been merged under the scheme of Development grants. In addition, UGC has provided assistance to Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow and Aligarh Muslim University for setting up of ‘Residential Coaching Academies for Minorities/SCs/STs and Women’. This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Lok Sabha today.
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