<div>Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge presented the interim railways budget in Lok Sabha on Wednesday (12 February).</div><div><br />Highlights of the budget<br /> </div><ul><li>Annual Rail Plan envisaged at Rs 64,305 crore with a budgetary support of Rs 30,223 crore</li><li>Passenger fares left untouched.</li><li>Operating ratio likely to be 90.8 per cent; Railways will end current year with surplus</li><li>Independent Rail Tariff Authority set up to advise on fixing of fares and freight, to engage all stakeholders.</li><li>17 new premium trains, 38 express trains and ten passenger trains to be launched</li><li>FDI being enabled to foster creation of world-class rail infrastructure; several PPP projects in pipeline.</li><li>Rail infrastructure by cost sharing with govts of Karnataka, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana.</li><li>Passenger rail service to Katra and Vaishnodevi to start shortly: Rail Land Development Authority has raised Rs 937 crore so far</li><li>Meghalaya set to come on rail map as part of extension of network in the Northeastern states.</li><li>More high-speed trains to be launched</li><li>Premium AC Spl train in Delhi-Mumbai sector with shorter advance reservation period and dynamically varying premium over tatkal fare. </li><li>Railways meet from own resources total additional impact of Rs one lakh crore because of 6th Pay Commission</li></ul><div>(Agencies)<br /> </div>
