NEW DELHI, Feb 24 � Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today lived upto popular expectations by not raising fares and freight rates in her Budget and even marginally reduced the tariff for transportation of foodgrains, fertiliser and kerosene to fight price rise, reports PTI.
Presenting the Railway Budget for 2010-11 that did not raise passenger fares for the seventh year in a row, she also announced free travel in trains for cancer patients for treatment in sleeper and AC-III classes and reduced service charges on e-booking of tickets by Rs 5 and Rs 20 in sleeper and all AC classes respectively.
Declaring there would be no privatisation of railways, the Minister announced plans for involvement of the private sector in various projects for which business models would be developed.
The Opposition slammed her Budget with BJP calling it a �mockery� of the Budget exercise, while the CPI-M said it would lead to �wholesale� privatisation of cream projects that would reduce earnings and halt progress, a charge she denied.
While the Budget projects an �excess� of Rs 951 crore after payment of dividend in the current year, surplus for the next year has been pegged at Rs 3,173 crore after dividend payout to the general Budget.
Banerjee proposed the highest-ever annual plan outlay for Railways by pegging it Rs 41,426 crore for 2010-11 under which a target of 1,000 km of new lines has been set.
The Budget proposes 54 new trains, 28 new passenger services,extension of 21 trains and increase in frequency of 12 trains.
With apparently Assembly elections in West Bengal in mind, she spread a number of goodies for the state including several new trains and setting up of coach and rail related factories.
However, she sought to rebut criticism of partiality saying �Don�t humiliate people of West Bengal� by levelling such a charge.
A provision of Rs 4,411 crore has been provided in the Plan for new lines while passenger amenities get Rs 1,302 crore and metro projects Rs 1,001 crore.
The plan also provides for acquisition of 18,000 wagons while additional Budgetary support of Rs 3,701 crore has been sought for 11 national projects.
Surveys of 114 socially desirable projects connecting backward areas will be taken up along with 54 surveys for new lines, two for gauge conversions, seven for doubling and five others.
Six high speed passenger train corridors have been identified to be executed through public-private partnership mode and a national high-speed authority will be set up for planning, implementing and monitoring these projects.
