The suspense of the railway budget 2011 has been undone today. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today presented the third budget in UPA-II in the Lok Sabha. The budget seems to be a combination of strong economic focus along with enclosures. The Railway minister said that there will not be any increase in the fares.

Concessions

The budget has incorporated a few concessions such as reducing the eligibility age of senior women citizens from 60 to 58 years and the fare concession for men above 60 from 30 to 40 per cent.

Income

The railway minister announced that the earnings for the year 2010-11 were to exceed Rs.1 lakh crore. She added saying that there are 85 PPP (Public-Private Partnership) proposals received so far and that they will be carried over by forming a single-window system.

Additional Trains

The budget said that Rs.10,000 crore is to be raised through railway bonds and the Anti-collision device which has been doing well in North West Frontier Railway will be extended to three more zonal railways.

Some Things Unique

Multi-purpose smart cards are to be introduced for all India travel and the facility of airport like trolleys are to be provided in at more number of stations.