3 Jul 2009
NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee began presenting her ministry's budget for the current fiscal shortly after noon Friday with the promise of addressing the concerns of average passengers.
"People all over the country have high expectations from the railway budget," Banerjee told the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, switching between English and Hindi. ( Watch )
She started with a question if Indian Railways, which runs the world's second largest railroad network under single management, should function purely on the basis of economic viability or address the social commitment.
"Time has come when our economic and social philosophers have to change their old mindset of economic viability and replace it with social viability and upliftment," she said.
Banerjee said her focus would be on better passenger amenities, good food at affordable prices, clean toilets at stations and trains. ( Watch )
"Fifty stations will be developed into world class facilities," she said naming those at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Varanasi Guwahati, Chennai, Mangalore, Porbundar and Kochi, among others.
This is her first rail budget for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and third in her political career.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Railway Budget 2009-10: Mamata focuses on passenger amenities
3 Jul 2009,
NEW DELHI: Presenting the Railway Budget for 2009-10 in Parliament today, Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee announced that there will be no
increase in passenger fare and freight tariff. She said that the budget will have approach for 'inclusive growth' and expansion of rail network to take development to every corner of the country.
Presenting the railway budget she proposed an outlay of Rs 40,745 cr. for 2009-10. Out of this, Rs 2,921 cr. will be spent on new lines, Rs 1,750 cr on gauge conversion and Rs 1,102 cr. on passenger amenities, which is 119% more than the allocation in the interim budget Rs 424 cr will also be spent on railway staff amenities. She proposed freight loading target of 882 MT and estimated gross freight receipt at Rs.88,419 cr.
Giving an overview of financial performance of the Railways in 2008-09, the Minister informed that freight loading during the period grew by 5 percent while traffic receipt increased by 11.4 per cent to reach Rs 79,862 cr.
The Budget has proposals for 7 new lines, Gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13 railway lines. In addition, proposals for 53 new lines, 3 gauge conversion and doubling of 12 lines will be processed during the year.
Proposing revision in Tatkal Scheme to make it more passenger friendly, the Railway Minister said that both the advance booking time and minimum charge will be reduced. She said perceptible improvement will be ensured in passenger amenities and safety and security will be given utmost importance. Cleanliness and quality of railway catering will be improved with focus on strict monitoring. She proposed that ticketing facilities will be taken to the grassroot level. Under the ‘Maa Mati Manush’ initiative, computerized tickets will also be made available through Post Offices. Mobile ticketing vans, ‘Mushkil Aasaan’, will also be introduced to provide services in remote areas.
Timely track renewal, modernization of signals and use of digital ultrasonic flaw detectors will be introduced for the safety of the passengers besides Integrated Security Scheme at 140 vulnerable and sensitive stations. Women RPF Squads, exclusively for women passengers, will also be introduced.
Kumari Mamata Banerjee announced a new scheme “Izzat” for travel with dignity. Under this scheme the people in unorganized sector with monthly income upto Rs 1,500/- can avail concessional monthly season ticket of Rs 25/- for travel upto 100 k.m.
The existing student concession is to be extended to students of Madrasas and students in Kolkata will now have the MST facilities for Kolkata Metro also.
To provide relief to women passengers the Minister proposed ‘only ladies’ EMU trains in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban during rush hours. She also announced new ‘Yuva trains’ dedicated to young generation from rural hinterland to major metros with concessional rail fare but with air-conditioned facilities.
Now the Press persons will get increased concession of 50% instead of existing 30% . Once in a year their spouse can also travel with 50% concession.
The Railway Minister announced 12 new point to point, non-stop ‘Duronto’ trains, 57 new train services, extension of 27 trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains. The Minister also proposed introduction of Air-conditioned double decker coaches for inter-city travel.
NEW DELHI: Presenting the Railway Budget for 2009-10 in Parliament today, Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee announced that there will be no
increase in passenger fare and freight tariff. She said that the budget will have approach for 'inclusive growth' and expansion of rail network to take development to every corner of the country.
Presenting the railway budget she proposed an outlay of Rs 40,745 cr. for 2009-10. Out of this, Rs 2,921 cr. will be spent on new lines, Rs 1,750 cr on gauge conversion and Rs 1,102 cr. on passenger amenities, which is 119% more than the allocation in the interim budget Rs 424 cr will also be spent on railway staff amenities. She proposed freight loading target of 882 MT and estimated gross freight receipt at Rs.88,419 cr.
Giving an overview of financial performance of the Railways in 2008-09, the Minister informed that freight loading during the period grew by 5 percent while traffic receipt increased by 11.4 per cent to reach Rs 79,862 cr.
The Budget has proposals for 7 new lines, Gauge conversion of 17 lines and doubling of 13 railway lines. In addition, proposals for 53 new lines, 3 gauge conversion and doubling of 12 lines will be processed during the year.
Proposing revision in Tatkal Scheme to make it more passenger friendly, the Railway Minister said that both the advance booking time and minimum charge will be reduced. She said perceptible improvement will be ensured in passenger amenities and safety and security will be given utmost importance. Cleanliness and quality of railway catering will be improved with focus on strict monitoring. She proposed that ticketing facilities will be taken to the grassroot level. Under the ‘Maa Mati Manush’ initiative, computerized tickets will also be made available through Post Offices. Mobile ticketing vans, ‘Mushkil Aasaan’, will also be introduced to provide services in remote areas.
Timely track renewal, modernization of signals and use of digital ultrasonic flaw detectors will be introduced for the safety of the passengers besides Integrated Security Scheme at 140 vulnerable and sensitive stations. Women RPF Squads, exclusively for women passengers, will also be introduced.
Kumari Mamata Banerjee announced a new scheme “Izzat” for travel with dignity. Under this scheme the people in unorganized sector with monthly income upto Rs 1,500/- can avail concessional monthly season ticket of Rs 25/- for travel upto 100 k.m.
The existing student concession is to be extended to students of Madrasas and students in Kolkata will now have the MST facilities for Kolkata Metro also.
To provide relief to women passengers the Minister proposed ‘only ladies’ EMU trains in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata suburban during rush hours. She also announced new ‘Yuva trains’ dedicated to young generation from rural hinterland to major metros with concessional rail fare but with air-conditioned facilities.
Now the Press persons will get increased concession of 50% instead of existing 30% . Once in a year their spouse can also travel with 50% concession.
The Railway Minister announced 12 new point to point, non-stop ‘Duronto’ trains, 57 new train services, extension of 27 trains and increase in frequency of 13 trains. The Minister also proposed introduction of Air-conditioned double decker coaches for inter-city travel.
Mamata's white paper will expose Lalu: Nitish
3 July 2009
Patna, Jul 3: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Friday utilised Railway minister Mamata Banerjee's rail budget to fire another salvo at her predecessor Lalu Prasad saying the planned white paper on the present financial status of the Railways would 'expose' his arch rival.
Nitish, a former railway minister himself, said the white paper would unravel the truth behind Lalu's claims that Railways earned huge profits successively during his five-year tenure.
"The decline shown in the cash surplus and increase in the operating ratio from 70 to 92.5 per cent proposed for the current fiscal will bring to the light the facts relating to the Railways earning profits," Kumar said.
Kumar has been going hammer and tongs at the RJD strongman's performance as railway minister in the UPA government's first term when he demanded a probe into the alleged jugglery of figures in profits shown between 2004 and 2009.
In another veiled attack on Lalu, Nitish appreciated Banerjee for scaling down targets of Railways and promising only those the implementation of which was possible within a specified time-frame.
"It is a clear departure from Lalu Prasad's budgetary speeches which remained a bundle of promises much beyond the targets possible to be achieved," he said.
Lalu himself was in a combative mood when he said he was not bothered by the Minister's declaration of coming out with a white paper on the organisational, operational and financial situation and performance of Railways in the past five years when he was at the helm.
"This is not an embarrassment (that a white paper is coming out). Let her bring out white paper. I am not bothered," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Patna, Jul 3: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Friday utilised Railway minister Mamata Banerjee's rail budget to fire another salvo at her predecessor Lalu Prasad saying the planned white paper on the present financial status of the Railways would 'expose' his arch rival.
Nitish, a former railway minister himself, said the white paper would unravel the truth behind Lalu's claims that Railways earned huge profits successively during his five-year tenure.
"The decline shown in the cash surplus and increase in the operating ratio from 70 to 92.5 per cent proposed for the current fiscal will bring to the light the facts relating to the Railways earning profits," Kumar said.
Kumar has been going hammer and tongs at the RJD strongman's performance as railway minister in the UPA government's first term when he demanded a probe into the alleged jugglery of figures in profits shown between 2004 and 2009.
In another veiled attack on Lalu, Nitish appreciated Banerjee for scaling down targets of Railways and promising only those the implementation of which was possible within a specified time-frame.
"It is a clear departure from Lalu Prasad's budgetary speeches which remained a bundle of promises much beyond the targets possible to be achieved," he said.
Lalu himself was in a combative mood when he said he was not bothered by the Minister's declaration of coming out with a white paper on the organisational, operational and financial situation and performance of Railways in the past five years when he was at the helm.
"This is not an embarrassment (that a white paper is coming out). Let her bring out white paper. I am not bothered," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
India Post takes wings to speed up delivery
30 Jun 2009
CHENNAI/ MUMBAI: Letters from Chennai to other metros would soon be delivered the very next day, as India Post has acquired two airplanes.
From the first week of July, two aircraft bearing the logo of India Post will take off from Chennai and Mumbai. These freighters have been leased from Air India by India Post, under the ministry of communications, so that your stamped mails, sealed parcels and other expressions of sentiment can get to their destination faster than ever before.
"We have been dependent on private airlines and connection flights all these years. The two dedicated aircraft will connect all metros, speeding up delivery of even ordinary mails. Now, a letter from Chennai takes up to three days to reach Delhi. Our aim is to deliver it the very next day," T Murthy, postmaster general, Tamil Nadu circle told TOI.
The planes, each with a capacity of 15 tonnes, will connect cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Nagpur. "The aim is to have a more reliable service,'' says Manjula Parashar, chief general manager, mail business, at the postal directorate in Delhi. For this purpose, two of Air India's old Boeing 737-200s, have been converted into freighters, says Jitendra Bhargava, spokesperson of Air India. The cue for launching this service came from the success of India Post's first such aircraft which flies everything from handicrafts to foodgrain on the Kolkata-Guwahati route.
As a result of this aircraft, which was launched in August 2007, birthday gifts reached the same day, businesses prospered, and the seven North Eastern sisters were brought that much closer to mainstream India. The services of this existing aircraft will be extended from next month to cover Delhi and Nagpur. Three citiesMumbai, Chennai and Kolkata will act as hubs for overnight transmission of mail.
Every night before the freighters leave their centres at around 11:30 pm, all mail from nearby cities will reach them. The three Boeings will then converge at Nagpur and exchange palettes (metal sheets which carry mails sorted according to destination cities). The aircraft will then fly back with their respective palettes. When they touch down at their centres early next morning, local distribution services like trucks, trains and other airlines will take over. Dry runs for these aircraft will begin later this week.
CHENNAI/ MUMBAI: Letters from Chennai to other metros would soon be delivered the very next day, as India Post has acquired two airplanes.
From the first week of July, two aircraft bearing the logo of India Post will take off from Chennai and Mumbai. These freighters have been leased from Air India by India Post, under the ministry of communications, so that your stamped mails, sealed parcels and other expressions of sentiment can get to their destination faster than ever before.
"We have been dependent on private airlines and connection flights all these years. The two dedicated aircraft will connect all metros, speeding up delivery of even ordinary mails. Now, a letter from Chennai takes up to three days to reach Delhi. Our aim is to deliver it the very next day," T Murthy, postmaster general, Tamil Nadu circle told TOI.
The planes, each with a capacity of 15 tonnes, will connect cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Nagpur. "The aim is to have a more reliable service,'' says Manjula Parashar, chief general manager, mail business, at the postal directorate in Delhi. For this purpose, two of Air India's old Boeing 737-200s, have been converted into freighters, says Jitendra Bhargava, spokesperson of Air India. The cue for launching this service came from the success of India Post's first such aircraft which flies everything from handicrafts to foodgrain on the Kolkata-Guwahati route.
As a result of this aircraft, which was launched in August 2007, birthday gifts reached the same day, businesses prospered, and the seven North Eastern sisters were brought that much closer to mainstream India. The services of this existing aircraft will be extended from next month to cover Delhi and Nagpur. Three citiesMumbai, Chennai and Kolkata will act as hubs for overnight transmission of mail.
Every night before the freighters leave their centres at around 11:30 pm, all mail from nearby cities will reach them. The three Boeings will then converge at Nagpur and exchange palettes (metal sheets which carry mails sorted according to destination cities). The aircraft will then fly back with their respective palettes. When they touch down at their centres early next morning, local distribution services like trucks, trains and other airlines will take over. Dry runs for these aircraft will begin later this week.
Airlines lost $3 billion in first quarter: IATA
30 Jun 2009, REUTERS
GENEVA: The world's airlines lost more than $3 billion in the first quarter of 2009, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Tuesday, maintaining its estimate for full-year losses of $9 billion.
In its latest snapshot on the industry, the Geneva-based lobby said weak travel demand and lower freight volumes in the global recession had bled revenues for major carriers, in "a significant deterioration from last year".
"This deterioration was before the recent rise in fuel prices," IATA said, warning the 30 per cent increase in oil and jet fuel prices since early May would squeeze airline cash flows further in coming months.
Both oil and jet fuel prices have risen almost $20 a barrel in the past two months, and are now 75 per cent higher than their low point at the end of 2008, the Financial Monitor report said.
"Airlines have not yet felt the full impact of this oil price rise," it said.
But it said it was not changing its previous 2009 loss forecast of $9 billion, which follows revised 2008 losses of $10.4 billion.
On Tuesday, U.S. crude traded around $72 per barrel.
IATA, which represents more than 200 airlines, also said carriers trying to fly fewer flights to save costs during the downturn have not managed to cut capacity in line with shrinking air transport demand.
Leading airlines have been seeking mergers and acquisitions to help build scale and shield themselves against continued market weakness until the global economy recovers.
Delta Air Lines swallowed rival Northwest Airlines last year to create the world's largest airline, and European carriers have also consolidated with Deutsche Lufthansa agreeing to buy Austrian Airlines and Air France-KLM scooping up Alitalia.
British Airways is also in merger talks with Iberia, and Singapore Airlines has said it is eyeing acquisitions in China and India.
GENEVA: The world's airlines lost more than $3 billion in the first quarter of 2009, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Tuesday, maintaining its estimate for full-year losses of $9 billion.
In its latest snapshot on the industry, the Geneva-based lobby said weak travel demand and lower freight volumes in the global recession had bled revenues for major carriers, in "a significant deterioration from last year".
"This deterioration was before the recent rise in fuel prices," IATA said, warning the 30 per cent increase in oil and jet fuel prices since early May would squeeze airline cash flows further in coming months.
Both oil and jet fuel prices have risen almost $20 a barrel in the past two months, and are now 75 per cent higher than their low point at the end of 2008, the Financial Monitor report said.
"Airlines have not yet felt the full impact of this oil price rise," it said.
But it said it was not changing its previous 2009 loss forecast of $9 billion, which follows revised 2008 losses of $10.4 billion.
On Tuesday, U.S. crude traded around $72 per barrel.
IATA, which represents more than 200 airlines, also said carriers trying to fly fewer flights to save costs during the downturn have not managed to cut capacity in line with shrinking air transport demand.
Leading airlines have been seeking mergers and acquisitions to help build scale and shield themselves against continued market weakness until the global economy recovers.
Delta Air Lines swallowed rival Northwest Airlines last year to create the world's largest airline, and European carriers have also consolidated with Deutsche Lufthansa agreeing to buy Austrian Airlines and Air France-KLM scooping up Alitalia.
British Airways is also in merger talks with Iberia, and Singapore Airlines has said it is eyeing acquisitions in China and India.
Jet Airways Konnect introduces 14 new flights
29 Jun 2009, PTI
MUMBAI: Jet Airways Konnect on Monday said it is adding 14 new flights on its network, bringing the number of flights to 125.
The network would now include sectors connecting Mumbai with Rajkot and Bengaluru with daily flights, commencing July 7, a press release issued here said.
Again, effective July 11, Jet Airways Konnect will offer similar services from Delhi to Indore and Bhopal as also between Mumbai and Delhi and Indore and Bhopal with daily flights.
Two Boeing 737 aircraft will be deployed for this purpose, the release said.
The deployment of these two Boeing 737-700 aircraft will take the tally of aircraft offering the Jet Airways Konnect services, up to 19 aircraft (9 Boeing 737s and 10 ATRs), the release said.
MUMBAI: Jet Airways Konnect on Monday said it is adding 14 new flights on its network, bringing the number of flights to 125.
The network would now include sectors connecting Mumbai with Rajkot and Bengaluru with daily flights, commencing July 7, a press release issued here said.
Again, effective July 11, Jet Airways Konnect will offer similar services from Delhi to Indore and Bhopal as also between Mumbai and Delhi and Indore and Bhopal with daily flights.
Two Boeing 737 aircraft will be deployed for this purpose, the release said.
The deployment of these two Boeing 737-700 aircraft will take the tally of aircraft offering the Jet Airways Konnect services, up to 19 aircraft (9 Boeing 737s and 10 ATRs), the release said.
AI Express to cancel some Gulf services, add to domestic routes
1 Jul 2009, ET Bureau
MUMBAI: The financial crunch at Air India is taking a toll on its subsidiary Air India Express which has now decided to pull out a few international Boeing's 787 Dreamliner flights and deploy them on domestic routes in the country.
Air India Express will pull out flights from routes in the Gulf and South-East Asia among which are Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The redeployment of these international flights will be in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. This process will take place around September this year with Air India Express functioning as a low-cost service.
A senior Air India official confirmed that the company is already working on a low-cost model. “We noticed that travellers, especially corporates, have switched over to low-cost airlines from full service carriers on many domestic sectors,” he added.
Tara Naidu, chief of commercial at Air India Express told ET: “Air India has drawn up a strategy where the merged entity Air India (the Indian Airlines-Air India combine) will emerge as a full-service carrier and Air India Express will be our low-cost service and both will continue to fly domestic and internationally.”
Air India Express plans to have 25 aircrafts in its fleet — seven leased and 18 owned — by the end of the year. Today, it has 19 state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircrafts. It began operations in 2005 and operates over 200 flights per week. Of these, 175 are across international destinations, 13 on the domestic routes and another 13 on behalf of Air India.
From a 2% market share during April-December 2007, Air India Express’ market share jumped to 6% during February 2008-January 2009. The airline has a load factor of 75% and has ferried over 2.25 million passengers in the last fiscal against 1.7-million passengers in FY08.
MUMBAI: The financial crunch at Air India is taking a toll on its subsidiary Air India Express which has now decided to pull out a few international Boeing's 787 Dreamliner flights and deploy them on domestic routes in the country.
Air India Express will pull out flights from routes in the Gulf and South-East Asia among which are Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The redeployment of these international flights will be in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. This process will take place around September this year with Air India Express functioning as a low-cost service.
A senior Air India official confirmed that the company is already working on a low-cost model. “We noticed that travellers, especially corporates, have switched over to low-cost airlines from full service carriers on many domestic sectors,” he added.
Tara Naidu, chief of commercial at Air India Express told ET: “Air India has drawn up a strategy where the merged entity Air India (the Indian Airlines-Air India combine) will emerge as a full-service carrier and Air India Express will be our low-cost service and both will continue to fly domestic and internationally.”
Air India Express plans to have 25 aircrafts in its fleet — seven leased and 18 owned — by the end of the year. Today, it has 19 state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircrafts. It began operations in 2005 and operates over 200 flights per week. Of these, 175 are across international destinations, 13 on the domestic routes and another 13 on behalf of Air India.
From a 2% market share during April-December 2007, Air India Express’ market share jumped to 6% during February 2008-January 2009. The airline has a load factor of 75% and has ferried over 2.25 million passengers in the last fiscal against 1.7-million passengers in FY08.
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