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Indian Railways’ Passenger Friendly Initiatives | Northern Voices Online

Indian Railways’ Passenger Friendly Initiatives | Northern Voices Online

Indian Railways continuously strive to provide comfortable and affordable travel experience to its passengers. Following steps/initiatives have been taken in this direction:
Proliferation of E-Ticketing: Owing to liberalization of norms, increase of booking hours and increased convenience, the percentage of tickets being electronically booked is progressively increasing and is currently about 45 per cent  of total Passenger Reservation System (PRS) tickets booked. On an average, 3.65 lakh reserved tickets are being booked through internet daily.
Ticketing Through Mobile Phone: E-tickets can also be booked through the mobile phone by downloading software from Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website to the mobile phone. Further since February 2012, passengers booking e-tickets need not take a print-out of the Electronic Reservation slip (ERS) and instead display authorized SMS sent by IRCTC containing all vital details on laptops/palmtops/mobile phones. They are also required to carry their valid photo-id in original. This is a passenger friendly and an eco-friendly measure.
Ticketing Through SMS: In order to improve access and tap the potential of mobile phone market, a pilot project of SMS-based ticketing through non-internet based mobile phones has been launched by IRCTC on July 1, 2013.
Tatkal Facilitation:  In order to improve accessibility of Tatkal tickets, the timing of opening of reservation of Tatkal tickets has been shifted to 1000 hours on the previous day of journey instead of 0800 hours, since 10.07.2012. Further, no authorized agents, including agents of IRCTC and RTSAs/RTAs are allowed to book Tatkal tickets from 10:00 hours to 12:00 hours.
Diversification of Booking Modes
Proliferation through Tie-up with other institutions (Post offices): PRS terminals are being provided in Post Offices for which MOU has been signed with Department of Posts. About 249 Post offices currently have this facility.
Reduction of pressure through Automation: Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (AVTMs) have been introduced to facilitate sale of unreserved tickets and reduce the pressure at the UTS counters. Incentives are offered to passengers for using Smart Cards at ATVMs. 811 ATVMs are functional, at present. Further, in order to benchmark Indian ticketing-facilitation initiatives with Global Best Practices, a pilot project of Coin/Currency Operated ATVM has also been made operational in Mumbai.
Alternate Mode of Sales for Unreserved tickets: With a view to facilitate issuing of unreserved tickets, Jansadharan Tickets Booking Sewaks (JTBS) are being appointed in city areas. They are provided UTS terminals and are allowed to realise commission from the passengers. Around 993 JTBS have been commissioned at present.
Reduction in Advance Reservation Period: The Advance Reservation Period has been reduced from 120 days to 60 days w.e.f 01.05.2013.
ID Proof Mandatory For All Reserved Classes To Prevent Misuse of Ticket – With a view to keep a check on the passengers travelling on transferred tickets, provision was already there for production of proof identity in case of e-tickets, Tatkal tickets and passengers travelling in AC classes (except 3E). The scope of this provision has been expanded and w.e.f  01.12.2012, any one of the passengers booked on a ticket for travelling in any reserved class has to produce any one of the ten prescribed proof of identity in original during the journey , failing which all the passengers are treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly. There is, however, no change in the condition of production of same proof of identity (in original) as indicated on the Tatkal ticket.
New Passenger Friendly Amenities
Facility of Modern Luggage Trolleys had been introduced as a pilot project for senior citizens and women passengers. These were earlier operated through Rail Yatri Sevaks. Subsequently, instructions have been issued to Zonal Railways on 03.05.2013 to hand over the Modern Luggage Trolley to licensed porters at all other stations except Howrah and Sealdah where these trolleys will continue to be operated by Rail Yatri Sevaks up to May, 2014.
Cleanliness Improvement: For improving the standards of cleanliness, Railways have been planned multi-pronged action by synergizing technology, education of Users and provision of better mechanized equipments.
Battery operated vehicles at Railway stations for disabled, old age and sick passengers. This facility is to be provided through Commercial Publicity route with no charge to be levied either from the passenger or from the Railway. The scheme which was initially started for one year had been extended further up to 26.08.2016. The facility is presently available at 25 stations.
Adarsh Stations: The scheme of Adarsh stations has already been introduced Indian Railways. Adarsh Stations are provided with basic facilities such as drinking water, adequate toilets, catering services, waiting rooms and dormitories especially for lady passengers, better signage, etc. Under this scheme, 1052 Railway Stations have so far been selected for development.

Special food on Rajdhani, Shatabdi for diabetic, ill travellers | Business Standard

Special food on Rajdhani, Shatabdi for diabetic, ill travellers | Business Standard
The Indian will provide special meals on demand for diabetic and ailing passengers travelling on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
This was stated in a communique from the railway ministry to Jagat Prakash Nadda, Rajya Sabha member of parliament (MP) from Himachal Pradesh.
Nadda had in February written to the railway minister seeking provision of special meals for travellers suffering from diabetes or cardio-vascular disease (CVD). He raised the issue through a question in the Rajya Sabha in August.
He was told that necessary guidelines have been issued to all railway zones to provide special meals on demand to diabetic and ailing passengers travelling on these trains.
The ministry said Jain food will also be provided on demand.
In a communication to the MP, railways executive director-health S.K. Sabharwal said instructions for provision of the special meals have been issued to all concerned.
Director-traffic and commercial K.P. Yadav has directed chief commercial managers of all zonal railways that punitive action would be initiated against the concerned officials if special meals are not served.
"Diabetic and CVD passengers are served butter, sugar, jam and pickle that they cannot consume, resulting in food wastage. Special meals on demand will help such passengers," Nadda told IANS.


Rajendra Kashyap appointed Financial Commissioner (Railways)

       
Rajendra Kashyap
Rajendra Kashyap
Mr Rajendra Kashyap, an officer of the 1976 batch of the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS), has been appointed as the Financial Commissioner (Railways) and ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.  
 
Prior to this, Mr Kashyap was holding additional charge of Financial Commissioner (Railways) with effect from 1st July, 2013 in addition to his own duties as Additional Member (Budget), Railway Board.
 
Mr Kashyap has worked in various capacities on the Zonal Railways and in Ministry of Railways and Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. 
 
He completed his MBA from University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom.  He held the posts of Director Finance and Managing Director, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) from February 2002 to August, 2011.
 
 

RATES OF INCOME-TAX AS PER FINANCE ACT, 2013

 
Posted: 18 Oct 2013 01:41 AM PDT
RATES OF INCOME-TAX AS PER FINANCE ACT, 2013

As per the Finance Act, 2013, income-tax is required to be deducted under Section 192 of the Act from income chargeable under the head "Salaries" for the financial year 2013-14 (i.e. Assessment Year 2014-15) at the following rates:

2.1 Rates of tax

A. Normal Rates of tax:

S. No
Total Income
Rate of tax
1 Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 2,00,000/-. Nil
2 Where the total income exceeds Rs. 2,00,000 but does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/- 10 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 2,00,000/-
3 Where the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-. Rs. 30,000/- plus 20 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.
4 Where the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-. Rs. 1,30,000/- plus 30 Per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

B. Rates of tax for every individual, resident in India, who is of the age of sixty years or
more but less than eighty years at any time during the financial year:

S. No
Total Income
Rate of tax
1 Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 2,50,000/- Nil
2 Where the total income exceeds
Rs. 2,50,000 but does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/-
10 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 2,50,000/-
3 Where the total income exceeds
Rs. 5,00,000/- but does not exceed
Rs. 10,00,000/-
Rs. 25,000/- plus 20 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-.
4 Where the total income exceeds
Rs. 10,00,000/-
Rs. 1,25,000/- plus 30 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

C. In case of every individual being a resident in India, who is of the age of eighty years or
more at any time during the financial year:

S. No
Total Income
Rate of tax
1 Where the total income does not exceed Rs. 5,00,000/- Nil
2 Where the total income exceeds
Rs. 5,00,000 but does not exceed Rs. 10,00,000/-
20 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 5,00,000/-
4Where the total income exceeds
Rs. 10,00,000/-
Rs. 1,00,000/- plus 30 per cent of the amount by which the total income exceeds Rs. 10,00,000/-

2.2 Surcharge on Income tax:

The amount of income-tax shall be increased by a surcharge @10% of the Income-tax on payments to an individual taxpayer, if the total income of the individual exceeds Rs 1 crore during FY 2013-14 (AY 2014-15). However the amount of Surcharge shall not exceed the amount by which the individual’s total income exceeds Rs 1 crore and if surcharge so arrived at, exceeds such amount (assessee’s total income minus one crore) then it will be restricted to the amount of total income minus Rupees one crore.

2.3.1 Education Cess on Income tax: The amount of income-tax including the surcharge if any, shall be increased by Education Cess on Income Tax at the rate of two percent of the income-tax.

2.3.2 Secondary and Higher Education Cess on Income-tax: An additional cess is chargeable at the rate of one percent of income-tax including the surcharge if any, but not including the Education Cess on income tax as in 2.3.1.

3. SECTION 192 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961: BROAD SCHEME OF TAX DEDUCTION AT SOURCE FROM "SALARIES":

3.1 Method of Tax Calculation:
Every person who is responsible for paying any income chargeable under the head "Salaries" shall deduct income-tax on the estimated income of the assessee under the head "Salaries" for the financial year 2013-14. The income-tax is required to be calculated on the basis of the rates given above, subject to the provisions related to requirement to furnish PAN as per sec 206AA of the Act, and shall be deducted at the time of each payment. No tax, however, will be required to be deducted at source in any case unless the estimated salary income including the value of perquisites, for the financial year exceeds Rs. 2,00,000/- or Rs.2,50,000/- or Rs. 5,00,000/-, as the case may be, depending upon the age of the employee.

Indian Railways Likely to Stop Pantry Cars in Trains; Buy Food at Station | MF Monitor

Indian Railways Likely to Stop Pantry Cars in Trains; Buy Food at Station | MF Monitor

Indian Railways is likely to end the system of supplying food in express trains but provide food at stations through fast-food outlets from 2014 onwards, owing to increase in the number of fire incidents in trains, with the latest one reported on October 15 in a Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express in Assam.
Often fire accidents in running trains owing to pantry cars in long-journey trains, Indian Railways has decided more than a year ago not to call for tenders for pantry car-based food supplies in trains and no tenders were called this year though the contract ends by the end of this year in all trains.
In fact, smoking was effectively banned on trains ten years ago and the only reason cited for these accidents is the use of LPG gas in pantry cars.
The recent trigger was when a fire broke out in a pantry car of the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express on October 14. Last year, two incidents of fire were reported. The increase in the incidents owing to fire breaking out from the pantry car, has triggered the Railway Ministry to heed the suggestion to stop pantry cars in these trains.
Here is a timeline of fire accidents in Indian railways in the last 20 years, with the recent one first.
14 October, 2013 – The recent incident happened on October 14 when a major fire broke out in a pantry car of the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express near Dharamtul Railway Station in Morigaon district, Assam.
30 Nov 2012 – At least two AC coaches of GT Express caught fire near Gwalior on Friday, claiming several lives.
16 October 2012 – A bogie of the Solapur-bound passenger train from Hyderabad caught fire during its halt at the station in Gulbarga. Immolation by a couple led to fire in train at Gulbarga station, says Railway police.
30 July 2012 – One of the coaches of the Chennai-bound Tamil Nadu Express (New Delhi-Chennai) caught fire early in the morning, near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and 47 people were killed and 25 injured.
22 November 2011 – Howrah-Dehradun express train caught fire and seven were burnt to death. It was around 2.30am when coach number B1 of the Dehradun-bound train caught fire. Later, the fire spread to coach B2. Both coaches were badly burnt, but all the casualties were from B1, say reports.
12 July 2011 – New Delhi-Patna Rajdhani Express’s coach caught fire in the outskirts of New Delhi.
18 April 2011 – Three coaches of the Mumbai – Delhi Rajdhani Express caught fire near Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh and the fire was put out quickly. No passenger was harmed.
13 February 2009 – Coromandel Expressmet caught fire soon after the train left Jajpur Road station in Orissa.
18 August 2006 – Two carriages caught fire on the Chennai–Hyderabad Express near Secundrabad station.
15 May 2003 – Fire broke out in Golden Temple Mail at 3.55 hrs between Ludhiana and Ladhowal stations, resulting in 36 deaths and 15 injuries.
14 May 1995 – Fifty-two people were killed as Madras–Kanyakumari Express met with fire accident near Salem.
26 October 1994 – Twenty seven people were killed as DN Mumbai–Hawrah mail caught fire on its S5 Sleeper class coach between Lotapahar and CKP stations (SE Railway) at 02.51 AM.
16 April 1990 – 70 people were killed as shuttle train near Patna caught fire.
23 February 1985 – Rajnandgaon train in Madhya Pradesh caught fire and 50 people were killed.


प्रधानमंत्री ने दी 7वें वेतन आयोग को हरी झंडी

THANK YOU PM
प्रधानमंत्री ने दी 7वें वेतन आयोग को हरी झंडी
प्रधानमंत्री ने दी 7वें वेतन आयोग को हरी झंडी
केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों के लिए एक बड़ी खुशखबरी है. प्रधानमंत्री ने सातवें वेतन आयोग के गठन की मंजूरी दे दी है. वेतन आयोग की सिफारिशों से करीब 50 लाख केंद्रीय कर्मचारी और 30 लाख पेंशनभोगी लाभान्वित होंगे.वेतन आयोग के गठित होने और उसकी सिफारिशों के लागू होने के बाद केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों का वेतन पहले के मुकाबले और बेहतर हो जाएगा. केंद्र सरकार की यह घोषणा आगामी लोकसभा चुनाव में लाभ लेने की कवायद मानी जा रही है.
गौरतलब है कि छठे वेतन आयोग की सिफारिशें एक जनवरी 2006 से लागू हुईं थीं. वेतन आयोग को अपनी सिफारिशें सौंपने में औसतन 2 वर्ष का समय लगता है.
अगर आयोग अपनी सिफारिशें सौंपने में 2 वर्ष का समय लेता है तो इसकी सिफारिशें जनवरी 2016 से लागू की जा सकती हैं. आयोग के चेयरमैन और सदस्‍यों के नामों पर निर्णय जल्‍द ही ले लिया जाएगा.
छठे वेतन आयोग से पहले पांचवा वेतन आयोग एक जनवरी 1996 और चौथा वेतन आयोग एक जनवरी 1986 को लागू किया गया था.
गौरतलब है कि सरकार अपने कर्मचारियों के वेतनमान में संशोधन करने के लिए हर दस साल में वेतन आयोग का गठन करती है और अकसर राज्यों द्वारा कुछ संशोधन के साथ इन्हें अपनाया जाता है.
छठे वेतन आयोग में लागू की गईं कुछ महत्‍वपूर्ण सिफारिशें
-केंद्रीय कर्मचारियों के वे सभी पद जिनके वेतन मान 26,000 रुपये से कम हैं और फिक्‍स्‍ड हैं उनके लिए परिवर्तनीय पे स्‍लैब लागू किया जाना चाहिए
-एंट्री लेवेल पर न्‍यूनतम वेतनमान 6,660 रुपये होना चाहिए. सचिव स्‍तर पर अधिकतम वेतनमान 80,000 रुपये होना चाहिए
-सचिव स्‍तर के पदों के लिए एक निश्चित वेतनमान होना चाहिए
-ग्रेड की कुल संख्‍या घटा कर 20 कर देनी चाहिए और इनके लिए चार परिवर्तनीय पे स्‍लैब होना चाहिए
-प्रमोशन के समय नए पद के अनुसार पे स्‍लैब तय किया जाना चाहिए और वेतन में एक बढ़ोतरी हर हाल में दिया जाना चाहिए
-वेतन में वार्षिक बढ़ोतरी कुल वेतन का ढाई फीसदी होना चाहिए
-वेतन में बढ़ोतरी एक जुलाई से ही दी जानी चाहिए