Likely to be merged with Union Budget from FY18
The initiatives intended to benefit the common man include e-ticketing, catering on demand, bio-toilets, food for infants, better stations.
Reeling under a series of derailments, the Budget is likely to announce creation of a separate safety fund of about Rs 1 lakh crore over the next five years.
The Opposition on slammed the Rail Budget for increasing the burden on the common man, with BJP terming it as "pedestrian" and "discriminatory" while Left said it does not give any hope on railways' future.
The forthcoming Railway Budget is, perhaps, going to be the toughest one for Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
With a view to reducing its dependence on conventional sources of energy, Railways is looking to harness solar power in a big way and is likely to include a plan for the same in its upcoming budget.
Passenger fares and freight rates were left untouched
In July last, fares were increased by 14.2%.
The ministries of Road Transport & Highways and Railways have exceeded the national average capital expenditure (capex) by spending 63 per cent and 57 per cent of Budget estimates (BE), respectively, in the first half of 2025-26 (FY26). The total capital expenditure for April-September of FY26 stood at 52 per cent of the BE, according to the latest data by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
Biju Janata Dal termed the Budget, which was presented in Parliament by Rail Minister Sadananda Gowda, 'quite shocking' and 'illogical' as it complained that no emphasis had been made in it for the areas that generated more revenue from freight.
The Indian Railways has called a two-day meeting of all zonal railway managers in New Delhi this month to review ongoing projects and discuss measures to improve the financial position in wake of a stiff rise in running cost and fears of the PSU missing earning targets.
Following the death of a software engineer whose car plunged into a water-filled pit at a construction site, the Noida Authority has taken action, including terminating an engineer and issuing show-cause notices. An investigation is underway.
Railways Minister Sadananda Gowda will present his maiden Rail Budget on July 8 in Parliament.
Railway Budget will be presented on February 26.
The Rail Budget will be presented in the first week of July and a balance between the 'commercial and human face' of the railways will be maintained, railway minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday. She also hinted that she would spend more time in her home state than in Delhi as the official work can also be carried out from West Bengal.
The railways recently successfully completed an experiment on the Delhi-Agra route for semi-high speed (up to 160 km/hr).
Continuing the trend of the past few years, the Railway Budget for 2007-08 may leave the second class train fare unchanged, but upper class AC and freight fares may be 'rationalised,' a euphemism for an upward revision.
The Railway Budget is progressive and wil ensure growth.
The maiden Railway Budget of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government seems to have not gone down well with the suburban commuters as it does not offer anything new to them, commuters associations in Mumbai said.
The 30-share Sensex ended down 261 points at 28,747 and the 50-share Nifty ended down 83 points at 8,684.
Suresh Prabhu has announced a slew of measures to improve servcies in trains and railway stations
The Indian Railways will borrow Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) from the market through its dedicated financing arm IRFC in the 2012-13 fiscal, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said on Wednesday.
BJP termed the Rail Budget as disappointing and the concessions it gives an eyewash.
The 30-share barometer started higher, but lost its way soon after the railway budget.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Wednesday described the railway budget as 'disappointing' and said the ministry's attempt to attract private firms to fund the rail projects is like 'chasing a dream'.
Though the Railway Minister did not propose any increase in basic rail fares, the hike in reservation fees and supplementary charges will mean an increase of Rs 5 to Rs 25 in fares for all classes in superfast trains.
According to sources close to her, the budget in a way would reflect Mamata's vision for the Railways in the coming years and means of generating resources for key projects.
Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav presented the Railway Budget for 2004-2005 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (July 6, 2004).
Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the vote on account for the Railway Budget for 2005-06
The first Railway Budget of this Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government is a cosmetic exercise, high on rhetoric and low in substance, the CPI-M said.
India's decrepit state-run train services stand to receive at least a 25 percent boost in investment to over $9 billion.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday participated in a traditional 'halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for the preparation of Union Budget 2025-26 to be unveiled on February 1 in the Lok Sabha. The ceremony is a customary ritual in which traditional dessert 'halwa' is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the finance ministry who are involved in the preparation of the Budget.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday hailed Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for doing a 'competent job' at a short notice, saying the Railway Budget will make train travel an "enjoyable experience".
He has now to show that he can take on the vested interests within the railways which are resisting change through corporatisation
The Railways will invest Rs 1.21 lakh crore (Rs 1.21 trillion) in 2016-17.
"The Railway Minister has presented a very responsible, practical and implementable budget," Chidambram told reporters outside Parliament.
Prabhu's maiden Railway budget is high on vision.
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav will present his maiden Budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that is widely expected to be pro-poor with no increase in second class suburban and passenger fares and freight charges.
Stepping up its offensive against the United Progressive Alliance government on the "tainted" ministers issue, the National Democratic Alliance on Friday decided to boycott the presentation of Railway Budget by Lalu Prasad Yadav in Lok Sabha on Satur
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances