New Delhi, February 24: Highlights of the 2010-11 railway budget presented by Mamata Banerjee in parliament today:
More multi-functional hospitals to be set up
Educational facilities to be set up for children of 80,000 women families
Special facilities to be established for gangmen
Insurance facilities for licensed porters as part of railway’s corporate social responsibility
Centre for railway research to be established with Indian Institutes of Technology and Defence Research and Deevelopment Organisation
Will involve unions in policy making
Integral Coach Factory Chennai to be further modernised
New wagon repair shop in Mumbai
Design, development and testing centre for railway wheels at Bangalore
Within five years, all unmanned level crossings to be manned
Construction of more underpasses, besides road overbridges
Greater coordination with state governments to protect railway property
Security of women passengers to be improved
Ex-servicemen to be employed in Railway Protection Force
Five sports academies to be set up; astroturf to be provided for development of hockey; employment opportunities for sports persons
Railways to be lead partner for Commonwealth Games
Special drive to increase passenger amenities
Upgradation of 94 stations
Six new drinking water bottling plants in public-private partnership (PPP) mode
Modern toilets at railway stations
More ticketing centres to help the public
Acquisition of cutting edge safety technology
1,000 route km to be created
Special task force for clearing investment proposals in 100 days
New business model to be created
No privatisation; railways will remain with government but with greater participation of business community
117 of 120 new trains for current fiscal to be flagged off (IANS)