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Railways Minister Speech
Sir, this year the country has witnessed a large number of natural calamities. Apart from the most recent and most devastating of them all i.e. earthquake in Gujarat, there have been floods in State of West Bengal, cyclonic rains in Andhra Pradesh and drought in Gujarat. As always, Railways have provided all possible assistance including free movement of fodder and water to various states in order to mitigate the sufferings. Railways have moved more than 300 rakes of fodder and around 20,000 wagons of water to the drought affected areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Orissa, free of charge.
As part of relief and rescue operations in Gujarat after the recent earthquake, 49 special trains were run to reach relief material and relatives to Gujarat and for evacuating the injured. Railways were the first to reach the interiors with a helping hand.
I am happy to inform the House that on behalf of the Railway family, a sum of Rs 15 cr has been contributed to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the victims of recent earthquake. Apart from this, various public sector undertakings of Railways have additionally contributed more than Rs. 3.58 cr.
Konkan Railway Corporation
Sir, I am glad to inform the House that the Konkan Railway Corporation has improved its operations and this year its earnings have increased by 30% over the previous year. However, the earnings of the Corporation are just sufficient to meet its operating expenses. I would like to reassure the House that the Ministry will continue to help the Corporation not only in meeting with its debt servicing obligations but also to increase its revenue generation and realise its full potential.
Metropolitan Transport Projects
I am happy to inform the House that doubling of Belapur-Panvel line has been commissioned for commuter traffic from April 2000. Fifth line between Santacruz and Andheri as part of 5th line project between Santacruz and Borivali has also been commissioned. Work on balance portion between Andheri and Borivali is also progressing well and is expected to be completed within the next financial year. Work on automatic signaling system between Virar-Dahanu Road is also likely to be completed within this financial year thereby increasing the line capacity on this section. New line of Thane-Turbhe-Nerul/Vashi which will provide another commuter corridor in New Mumbai is also expected to be completed by March' 2002 if the land acquisition in Thane area is expedited by the state government. Projects of quadrupling of Borivali-Virar section and construction of 5th and 6th lines between Kurla and Thane are also progressing well.
Works on the projects for extension of Kolkata Metro Railway from Tollygunge to Garia, extension of Circular Railway from Princepghat to Majerhat and provision of connection with Circular Railway from Dum Dum to the airport as well as electrification of the existing Circular Railway from Tala to Princepghat are continuing. Dum Dum-Tala section on Circular Railway has already been electrified. Electrification of Ranaghat-Gede has also been completed and Ranaghat-Bongaon will be completed within this financial year. This will facilitate running of EMU services in these sections also. Electrification of Barasat-Hasanabad is also progressing satisfactorily.
I am further happy to announce that as an extension of Calcutta Circular Railway Project, a link is proposed to be established between Ultadanga and Rajarhat (Phase-I up to Lake Town) to connect Dum Dum Airport to Titagarh in the North and Dum Dum Airport to Garia in the south. Hon'ble Members will be happy to know that the work of Phase II of Mass Rapid Transit System in Chennai from Tirumalai to Velacheri is progressing at a good pace. To ensure its timely completion requisite funds are being provided in the year 2001-02. Work on gauge conversion of Chennai Beach-Tambaram-Chengalpattu suburban section has also picked up speed and is progressing well.
Hon'ble Members will be happy to know that based on the proposal submitted by Government of Andhra Pradesh, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Indian Railways for strengthening the existing suburban infrastructure and services in the city of Hyderabad and its suburbs for making certain sections in the city fit for commuter train operation.
Production Units
During 1999-2000, all the Production Units - Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Diesel Component Works, Patiala and Wheel & Axle Plant, Bangalore - have achieved their targets. I am happy to inform the Hon'ble Members that Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and Wheel & Axle Plant, Bangalore have received ISO-14001 Certification for 'Environmental Management Standards Systems'.
I am happy to inform the House that Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala also bagged the prestigious "Golden Peacock Environment Management" Award in June 2000. 27 Coaches of the state-of-the-art LHB design, are slated for indigenous production during 2001-02. RCF has bagged orders for export of 72 MG bogies to Vietnam National Railways. Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi have bagged order for 12 BG Diesel Locomotives from Bangladesh Railways and Sri Lanka Railways during the current year.
Sir, I am glad to inform the House that Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) has manufactured a new WAP - 7 locomotive named 'Navbharati', which can be used to haul 26 coach trains at a speed of 140 KM per hour. CLW is now attracting a large number of International enquiries. Delegations from Switzerland, Turkey and South Africa have visited CLW to explore the possibility of buying locomotives based on latest technology.
RDSO
The functioning of the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) is the pioneering R&D wing of the Indian Railways has been thoroughly reviewed in the current year in pursuance of my budget commitment. Several steps are being initiated to improve the performance of this organisation.
Public Sector Undertakings
Hon'ble Members will be happy to know that the performance of the Public Sector Undertakings has been satisfactory during the year 1999-2000. In 1999-2000, IRCON International Ltd. had a turnover of Rs 538 cr and earned a net profit of Rs 47 cr. It paid a dividend of Rs 11.38 cr. Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) achieved the highest ever turnover of Rs 172 cr during the year 1999-2000, recording a net profit of Rs 16 cr and paid a dividend of Rs 3.20 cr. Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) had a turnover of Rs 832 cr, earning a profit of Rs 178 cr and paid Rs 36 cr as dividend. Indian Railway Finance Corporation earned a net profit of Rs 301 cr. It mobilised a total of Rs 2,836 cr. from market in 1999-2000 to supplement the plan resources of Indian Railways. It paid a dividend of Rs 65 cr.
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Rail Budget Speech Part II
