Railway Minister plays it safe ahead of elections, keeps fares unchanged

Highlight29:No change in passenger fares and freight charges.#

Highlight28:72 new trains to be introduced: These include 17 premium trains, 38 express trains, 10 passenger trains, 4 MEMU and 3 DEMU.#

Highlight27:Three trains will be extended and frequency of three other trains will be increased.#

Highlight26:Railway services to expand to hinterland and frontiers of India.#

Highlight25:19 new lines to be taken up for survey in fiscal 2014-15.#

Highlight24:Working expenses pegged at Rs 1,10,649 crore, which is Rs 13,589 crore higher than the revised estimates for the current fiscal.#

Highlight23:Three new factories -Rail Wheel Plant in district Chhapra, Bihar; Rail Coach Factory at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh; and Diesel Component Factory at Dankuni, West Bengal, have become functional and commenced production during 2013-14.#

Highlight22:Proposed outlay of Rs 64,305 crore with a budgetary support of Rs 30,223 crore.#

Highlight21:Seeks approval of spending for first four months of fiscal 2014-15.#

Highlight20:Gross traffic receipts pegged at Rs.1,60,775 crore.#

Highlight19:Target of doubling gauge was also surpassed: 2,227 km was completed against a target of 2,000 km.#

Highlight18:Electrification of 4,556 km railway line was completed against a target of 4,500 km.#

Highlight17:Rs 19,805 crore budgetary support needed for the fiscal 2014-15.#

Highlight16:Premium AC Spl train in Delhi-Mumbai sector with shorter advance reservation period and dynamically varying premium over tatkal fare.#

Highlight15:More high-speed trains to be launched.#

Highlight14:Setting up 11.2 km tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir.#

Highlight13:Seeks approval of spending for first four months of fiscal 2014-15 - Railway services to expand to hinterland and frontiers of India.#

Highlight12:It is time we take a note of the investment and other urgent needs of the railways.#

Highlight11:Railways need careful nurturing in its role to build nation.#

Highlight10:Dedicated eastern, western freight corridor soon.#

Highlight9:Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh to be brought on railway map.#

Highlight8:Vaishno Devi will be soon be linked to rest of the India.#

Highlight7:Several new lines, guage convesrions completed in last fiscal.#

Highlight6:Rail connectivity to Northeast has increased dramatically.#

Highlight5:Railways is a strong engine of country's development.#

Highlight4:Railways has successfully met the heavy impact of 6th pay commission.#

Highlight3:Railways contribution is unprecedented.#

Highlight2:Stocks of companies associated with the railways increased around noon.#

Highlight1:Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge presented the Railway budget 2014. This is an interim rail budget ahead of Lok Sabha polls.#