Railway Budget may offer innovative schemes

New Delhi, Feb. 25. Some innovative measures to mop up additional revenue, thrust on upgradation of the system, including signaling and telecommunication networks, and allotment of more funds to provide amenities for the travelling public, are among the likely highlights of the railway budget for 2001-2002 to be presented tomorrow to the Lok Sabha by Mamata Banerjee for the second successive year.

(Photo by V V Krishnan shows Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee giving final touches to the Railway Budget-2001 in New Delhi on Sunday.)

Banerjee, who has reportedly succeeded in avoiding the pressure to revise the fare structure upwards, is likely to rationalise the freight structure with a minimum impact on the overall price index. Substantial funds are also expected for implementing safety projects as recommended by the Khanna Commission and other experts over the years, it is learnt.

She intends to involve the private sector in the development and spread of the railways and is expected to oppose again the reported pressure to privatise it. She is also expected to announce introduction of several new trains and extension of some others for the benefit of the travelling public.

Another area which will be accorded priority in the matter of allocation of funds will be the on-going projects spread all over the country. She has instructed officials concerned that such projects should be completed first as scheduled to avoid escalation in cost's instead of taking up new ones.

The north-east, Jammu and Kashmir, and other backward regions are likely to get a fair deal in the budget despite severe resource crunch facing the railways, the sources said.

- UNI

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