New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS): With no fare hikes, 106 new trains and a host of proposals for travel safety and comfort, such as escalators at key stations, a new e-ticketing system and a swanky coach in select trains, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presented his maiden annual budget for his ministry Tuesday.

"The growth of Indian Railways is inextricably linked with the growth of the country," Bansal said in his 80-minute budget speech in Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, that clearly bordered on populism with a fair dose of measures on fiscal discipline.

"Railways must remain financially sustainable. Resources generated must be ploughed back," he said in what was the last such annual exercise for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government before the next general elections, scheduled in 2014.

But Bansal said there will be no major fare hikes this time, having already revised them last month. He nevertheless proposed minor revisions in some charges, such as those for tatkal and reservations. He also called for a routine 5-6 percent fare hike every year.

On freight, he said, there will be an upward revision of 5-6 percent from April 1 to balance the hike in fuel costs. He said freight and passenger fares must be de-linked from the fuel costs with periodic automatic adjustments.

Bansal said while making all these proposals, he was happy to note that the operating ratio of Indian Railways -- the money spent on recurring costs such as salaries and interest to earn Rs.1 in revenue -- had come down to 88 paise from around 95 paise.

He kept the plan target for 2013-14 at Rs.63,363 crore (Rs.633.63 billion or $11.5 billion)

The minister said railways remained the single most important catalyst in India's growth story and was a vital organisation integrating the nation from Baramulla in the north to Kanyamumari in the south, and from Dwarka in the west to Ledo in the east.

Bansal expressed grief over the loss lives due to the recent stampede at the Allahabad station and said a concrete safety plan would ensure that travel on Indian Railways is hassel free. The minister said safety of women, in particular, will be a priority.

He said the remaining 13,000-odd unmanned level crossings will be mechanised, while 400 lifts and 179 escalators will be deployed in catagory one stations. This apart, coaches will be made wheel-chair friendly and approaches made easy for the differently-abled.

"With the popularity of Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains, high-travel comfort has been high on passenger agenda. For this, one such coach, that will provide excellent ambience and services, will run on select trains. Such coaches will be called 'Anubhuti'," he said.

India's railroad network, ranked among the top five in the world, is spread over 64,000 km with 7,083 stations, to ferry 23 million travellers and 2.65 million tonnes of goods daily on 12,000 passenger and 7,000 freight trains.

Bansal, who represents Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha, said he was well aware about the problems faced by passengers while booking tickets on the internet. Accordingly, he promised a next-generation ticketing system by the end of this year.

The advocate-turned politician also promised a new e-ticketing system through mobile phones, SMS alerts for reservation status and free wi-fi on select trains, apart from setting a target of Rs.1 trillion for projects under public-private partnership.

Railways to get 'next generation' e-ticketing system

Indian Railways will introduce by the end of this year a "next generation" e-ticketing system that will improve the speed of online ticket booking, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Tuesday.

The new system will have the capacity to book 7,200 tickets a minute as against the current capacity of 2,000, Bansal said while presenting the railway budget in the Lok Sabha.

Bansal pointed out that congestion at the IRCTC web site caused a lot of problem for passengers.

"The next generation ticketing system will significantly improve the situation," he added.

Railways may suffer Rs.24,600 crore loss in 2012-13

The Indian Railways is likely to suffer a loss of Rs.24,600 crore in fiscal year ending March 31 as compared to Rs.22,500 crore in the previous fiscal, Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Tuesday.

Presenting the railway budget in parliament, Bansal said losses had increased sharply in the past one decade due to rising input cost and near stagnant revenue due to no revision in passenger fare.

The railways posted a loss of Rs.4,955 crore in 2002-03.

This was Bansal's maiden rail budget and a first by a Congress minister in 17 years.

Budget Highlights

22 new lines to be taken up in 2013-14

Superfast and Tatkal charges to rise

67 new Express trains to be introduced; 27 new passenger trains; run of 58 trains to be extended

New debt service fund to be set up

Will close fiscal 2012-13 with fund balance against previous deficit; need to build fund balance to Rs.30,000 crore by end of 12th Plan

Operating ratio of 88.8 percent achieved

Dividend reduced from 5 to 4 percent

Electrification of 1,200 km to be completed this year

72 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

No increase in passenger fares

Rs.6,600 crore increase in earnings from fare adjustment in January

Rs.63,000 crore investment in 2013-14

1,047 million tonnes freight loading estimated during 2013-14

Passenger earnings of Rs 42,000 crore estimated in 2013-14

Indian Railways Institute of Financial Management to be set up at Secunderabad

Chair at Delhi to promote research in reducing carbon footprint

Winners of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Dhyan Chand awards to get free first class passes

Complementary first class passes for parents of unmarried posthumous awardees of Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra

Complementary passes of freedom fighters to be renewed every three years instead of annually

New wheel factory to be set up at Rae Bareli

Greenfiled EMU manufacturing facility at Bhilwara

Railway energy management company to be set up to harness solar and wind energy

1,000 crossings to be energised by solar power

1.51 lakh vacancies to be filled up

Locomotive cabs to be air-conditioned

Azadi Express to be introduced to travel to places associated with
freedom struggle

India in 1 billion tonne freight club

By end of 2013-14, 1,500 km of contracts to be awarded for two dedicated rail corridors

Rs.1 lakh crore target set for public-private-partnership route

Free Wi-Fi to be provided on some trains

Rs.100 crore for improving stations in New Delhi

179 escalators and 400 lifts at A 1 and other select stations

E-ticketing through mobile phones

SMS alerts for passengers on reservation status

Next generation e-ticketing system by end of 2013

Seventeen bridges identified for repair

Smoke and fire detection system envisaged

Fire extinguishers to be kept in guard vans

Corporate plan for 10 years to be drawn up

Raised four companies of women RPF personnel, and another eight to be raised for women's safety

Six more Rail Neer bottling plants to be set up

Losses mounted from Rs.22,500 crore in 2011-12 to Rs.24,600 crore in 2012-13

Planning Commission pegged 12th Plan at Rs.125.19 lakh crore

Fall in accidents - per million accidents down from .41 to .13

Aim to eliminate 31,846 level crossings