Freight loading at 518.74 million tonnes (mt.) surpassed revised target of 515 mt.

Besides current dividend of Rs. 2665 cr, Rs.50 cr of deferred dividend paid.

Operating ratio improved to 92.3 per cent as against budgeted 94.4 per cent.

Freight loading target enhanced to 550 mt.; number of passengers likely to grow by around 3 percent over previous year.

Ordinary Working Expenses likely to be less by Rs.1,490 cr.

Appropriation to Pension Fund reduced by Rs.295 cr.; appropriation to DRF increased by Rs 262 cr.

Besides current dividend of Rs.2,968 cr, Rs. 300 cr of deferred dividend to be cleared.

Operating ratio likely to improve to 92.6 per cent from the budgeted 94.1 per cent.

Plan outlay increased by Rs. 1,000 cr and fixed at Rs. 13,918 cr in R.E.

Expected growth in freight traffic - 20 mt. and around 3 percent in number of passengers.

Gross Traffic Receipts estimated at Rs 44,482 cr. i.e., Rs 1,877 cr over RE 2003-04.

Ordinary Working Expenses budgeted at Rs. 32,960 cr.

Besides current Dividend of Rs.3,305 cr, Rs. 300 cr of deferred dividend to be cleared.

Budgeted Operating ratio 93.0 per cent.

Plan outlay fixed at Rs. 13,425 cr. consisting of Budgetary support of Rs.4,544 cr., SRSF Rs. 2,795 cr, Rs. 401 cr from Central Road Fund, Internal resources of Rs. 2,635 cr and Market Borrowing of Rs.3,050 cr. Also includes an outlay of Rs. 717 cr for Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.

Railway Protection Force gearing up to take over the additional responsibility of train escorting and security in passenger areas with effect from 1st July, 2004

Technology Mission on Railway Safety — 14 projects approved as a joint effort between Ministry of Railways, Ministry of HRD and industries.

ACD provisioning on 1,736 kilometres launched on 20^th January, 2004. ACD on remaining BG sections to be provided in the next five years.

SRSF outlay for 2003-04 enhanced from Rs.2,311 cr. to Rs.2,351 cr. in R.E.

Work on all projects in full swing; Jammu-Udhampur to be opened on 25-03-2004.

Most of the trains announced in Budget, 2003-04 as well as 35 additional services including Jan Sadharan Express introduced. Rest to be introduced shortly

Unreserved Ticketing System to be extended.

A pilot project of e-ticketing to be started on select Shatabdi Express Trains.

Train reservations through mobile telephones to be introduced.

Regular incentive scheme announced for frequent Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi travellers.

Information about delayed departure of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains to be made available through SMS - pilot project announced.

Tatkal services to be extended.

Execution and completion of projects sanctioned on socio-economic considerations, connecting remote and backward areas to be speeded in the next five years through Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana with additional outlay of Rs.20,000 cr.

New series of fast trains named as "Sampark Kranti Express" to be introduced to connect states to the national capital. Value added features - non-stop run beyond the state, dedicated staff throughout the run and public address system.

First of this series, viz., Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express from Delhi (Nizamuddin) to Bangalore (Yashwantpur) is being introduced on 8th February, 2004.

17 other Sampark Kranti Express trains will cover other states.