Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal presented the Railway Budget proposals for fiscal 2013-14 in the Lok Sabha.

The highlights are as follows:

Indian Railways needs to raise an additional Rs.95000 crore over the next four years

Railway network needs to be expanded at a faster rate

The number of passenger trains has increased from 8000 in 2001 to over 12000 in 2012 - yet losses continue to mount. It is estimated to be Rs 24,000 crore in 2012-13

Anti-collision device needs to be put through rigorous trials

Strive to work towards a zero accident record

17 railway specific bridges sanctioned for rehabilitation

Enhancement of track capacity and Train Protection Warning Systems (TPWS)

Indigenously developed collision avoidance system to be put to trial

Induction of self-propelled accident relief trains along with fast and reliable disaster management systems

10 per cent reservation in Railway Protection Force (RPF) reserved for women

Four companies of women RPF personnel already set up, another in the offing

Additional Rail Neer mineral water bottling plants being set up, free wi-fi on select trains

179 escalators, 400 lifts to be operational at key stations, mechanised laundry cleaning in the offing

UID-Aadhar to be used for ticketing, reservation as well as managing and monitoring staff payrolls, pensions etc