Mamata announces software unit in Darjeeling

NEW DELHI, INDIA: With highest ever allocation of Rs.57,630 crore, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday presented the rail budget for 2011-12, promising to move fast to build a stronger railroad infrastructure while addressing the needs of the average person.

Announcing that a centre for excellence in software will be set up at Darjeeling, the railways minister also announced that online ticketing charge will be reduced from Rs 20 to Rs 10 for AC and from Rs 10 to Rs 5 for non-AC.

Mamata Banerjee said a GPS based ‘Fog Safe’ device has been deployed and this year, Railways have handled the foggy weather without any untoward incident. She also said a new portal for e-ticketing will be launched shortly.

While presenting the Railway Budget, she said that the recent trials with an improved version of Anti Collision Device (ACD) have met with success and it will be commissioned on three zonal railways, Southern, South Central and South Western Railways. She said considering the successful trials, the Ministry has decided to extend this device to Eastern, East Coast, East Central and South Eastern Railways. The Minister said with this the Railways will have covered eight of the 17 zonal railways for the implementation of ACD.

Some of the highlights of the budget are:

* 50 per cent concession for journalists and their families upto two times in a year.

* Combines strong economic focus along with inclusion.

* Develop business-oriented policies to aid industry.

* Anti-collision device, successful in North West Frontier Railway, to be extended to three more zonal railways.

* All-India security helpline set up.

* Rs.10,000 crore to be raised through railway bonds.

* Industrial park to be set up in Nandigram, West Bengal.

* To adopt modern technology through centres of academic excellence.

(With inputs from IANS)