NEW DELHI: To provide better amenities to passengers, Union budget proposed to introduce ‘Coach Mitra’ facility, a single window interface, to register all coach related complaints and requirements. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that Centre’s focus is on swachh rail and SMS based Clean My Coach Service has been started. “It is now proposed to introduce ‘Coach Mitra’ facility, a single window interface, to register all coach related complaints and requirements,” he said. The minister further said that by 2019, all coaches of Indian Railways will be fitted with bio toilets and 500 stations will be made differently abled friendly by providing lifts and escalators.
Pilot plants for environment friendly disposal of solid waste and conversion of biodegradable waste to energy are being set up at New Delhi and Jaipur railway stations. Five more such solid waste management plants are now being taken up. He said that a beginning has been made with regard to station redevelopment and at least 25 stations are expected to be awarded during 2017-18 for station redevelopment. It is proposed to feed about 7,000 stations with solar power in the medium term. A beginning has already been made in 300 stations. Works will be taken up for 2,000 railway stations as part of 1000 MW solar mission. Meanwhile, terming the provision of `1.31 lakh crore for railways’ capital expenditure as unprecedented, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that the Budget was growth oriented.
A new era has begun by not only adhering to fiscal prudence but also bringing social equity at the same time, Prabhu said after the presentation of the General Budget by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Prabhu said, “The growth will happen because of huge investments that is happening. For example in railways, the provision for `1.31 lakh crore for capital expenditure is unprecedented in railway history.” The capital expenditure was pegged at `1.21 lakh crore last year. He said the infrastructure investment will spur growth.