Highlights of Railway budget 2011-12

New Delhi, Feb 25: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, Feb 25 presented the railway budget in the Parliament.

The highlights of the Railway budget 2011-12 are as follows:

First coach from the new rail factory at Rae Bareli to roll out in next three months

Track-machine industry to be set up in Uluberia in West Bengal

A 700 MW gas based power plant to be set up at Thakurli in Maharashtra

Proposal to set up metro coach factory near Singur in West Bengal

Railways to set up a bridge factory in Jammu and Kashmir considering need for large number of bridges on railway projects in the state

Tax-free bonds for 100 billion rupees to be issued by IRFC in 2011/12

Greater thrust on new lines next year

Additional Rs 10,000 crore will be raised through tax free bonds

Propose to set up new railway lines in difficult, underpriviledged areas

Setting up funds for social sector projects

New 700 km rail track to be laid down

Number of trains increased from 16100 last year to 18000 this year

Three more railway zones to have anti-collusion device. This will further reduce the rail accident

Propose to remove all un-manned crossings across the country.

Anti-collision devices to be commissioned in three railway zones including South and South Central soon.

Track-machine industry to be set up in Uluberia in West Bengal.

Rail accident rate declines from 0.29 per cent last year to 0.17 per cent now.

Special incentives for states that run trouble-free railways

Multi-purpose smart card for passengers on travelling long distance to be introduced.

ANI