Railway Budget 2015 Highlights: This is all that Suresh Prabhu has to offer

All eyes were on Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today as he presented the Railway Budget in front of the house. But did he deliver on the promise of ‘ache din’? Did he propose some remarkable reforms or facilities to improve the abysmal state of Indian railways? Check out the highlights below to decide for yourself.

· No increase in passenger fares.

· Railway helpline number 138 will become operational 24x7.

· Toll free number 182 created for security-related complaints.

· Open Wi-Fi to be available at 400 railway stations; proposal to revamp the station re-development scheme.

· Introducing 'Operation 5-minute' to ensure ticketless passenger get regular ticket within five minute of entering station.

· SMS alert service to be introduced on train arrival/ departure; CCTVs to be introduced in select trains and suburban trains for women safety.

· Over 17,00 toilets on trains already replaced, another 17,000 to be replaced.

· Paperless ticketing system to be developed.

· Priority to improve capacity on high density network in next five years.

· Railways to go through transformation in 5 years; to increase track capacity by 10% to 1.38 lakh km.

· Railways to partner with private sector, PSUs and multilateral funding institutions.

· Investment of Rs 8.50 lakh crore envisaged over the next 5 years

· People of India will own railways always; Railways will continue to be precious national asset.

· Disposable linen on payment to be available at all stations.

· Rail-cum-road ticket to be extended to many stations; more trains to be added under scheme for ordering food while booking tickets.

· More general class coaches to be added in identified trains; more AC EMU services for Mumbai sub-urban sections.

· Online booking for wheel chairs to be enabled.

· MPs urged to use part of their funds for improving rail facilities.

· Wi-Fi facility to be extended to category B stations.

· Open bids to be invited from private parties to develop railway stations.

· Operational ration of 88.5% targeted.

· Defence travel system developed to eliminate system warrants.

· New department to keep stations clean.

· Waste to energy conversion plants to be created.

· Toilets at stations need improvement; 650 additional toilets to be created in addition to 120 last year.

· Over 20,00 suggestions received on improving facilities.

· Vicious cycle of under-investment must end.

· 1,219 sections on network - most of them overworked.

· In next five years, intention to substantially augment capacity.

· Four dedicated freight corridors to be completed this year; 6,608 kms of track to be electrified.

· 5-year corporate safety plan to be ready in 3 months to identify annual quantifiable targets.

· Projects worth Rs 96,182 crore to expand capacity of 9,420 km rail lines.

· Wagon-making scheme to be reviewed to make it easier for private investment.

· Speed on nine corridors to be increased from 110-130 to 160-200 kms per hour.

· Feasibility report of high speed train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad expected by mid-2015.

· Rs 6,750 crore allocated for eliminating 3438 level crossings; 970 road-underbridge and road-overbridge to be constructed.

· Plan size raised by 52% to Rs 111,000 crore.