UNION BUDGET 2017: Railways To Focus On Cost, Social Obligation, Competition

For the first ever time after 1921, the railway budget has been merged in the union budget. This is a departure from the colonion practice that has outlived its utility.

Here are the highlights of the allocations and new initiatives for the Indian Railways:

Budget allocation for highways stepped up to Rs 64,000 crore in FY18 from Rs 57,676 crore.Allocation For Railways at Rs 1.31 lakh crore in financial year 2018Proposal To Allocate Rs 1 lakh crore over the next five years for Railway Safety FundsBy 2019, all coaches of Indian Railways will be fitted with Bio-toiletsNew metro rail policy to be unveiled.Railway tariffs to be fixed on the basis of cost, social obligation and competition500 stations will be differently abled by providing lifts and escalatorsGovernment proposes Coach Mitra facility to redress grievances related to rail coaches