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NEW DELHI: The Railway Budget for 2009-10 today left passenger fares and freight rates untouched, in what is seen as UPA government's return gift to the people who gave it a second straight term in office.

The following are the highlights of the Railway Budget:

* Passenger and freight rates across board left unchanged
* Net revenue of Railways at Rs 8,121 crore in 2008-09
* To pay higher dividend Rs 5,479 crore to Centre in FY'10
* Tatkal charges reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 100
* Ladies' specials in suburban trains during peak hours
* 'Izzat' monthly ticket of Rs 25 for up to 100 km travel
* New coach factory at Kanchrapara in West Bengal
* Cold storages for farmers to store vegetables and fruits
* Talks to take over ailing wagon manufacturing units
* 18,000 wagons to be acquired during current year
* Railway medical colleges along with rail hospitals on PPP
* Student concession will cover Madrasa students
* Spl. coaches for disabled and aged persons
* 50 stations to be developed on world-class standard
* 375 stations to be upgraded as 'Adarsh' stations with basic facilities - drinking water, toilets and ladies' dormitories
* On-board availability of doctors in long distance trains
* On-board infotainment services to be provided
* 6,560 staff quarters to be constructed in 2009-10
* High-capacity A/C double-decker trains to be introduced * 57 new trains to be introduced * 12 non-stop trains to be introduced
* Accredited journalists to get 50% rebate; also once a year with spouse
* Proposes 1,000 MW power plant at Adra, a tribal area
* Cash surplus of Rs 17,400 crore before dividend
* Railways has investible surplus of Rs 12,681 crore
* Annual plan expenditure pegged at Rs 36,336 crore - PTI

Prev: CERC approves third power exchange
Next: Rail fares unchanged, slew of sops in budget

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