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Story Behind:
The government, in its mid-term appraisal of the tenth five-year plan (2002-07), has
revised upwards its infrastructure investment target from Rs 10,890 bn to around 11,100
bn (US bn) over the next five years. From a policy perspective, there has been a growing
consensus that a private-public partnership is required to remove difficulties concerning
the development of infrastructure in the country. A substantial chunk of the
abovementioned investment target is likely to come from the private sector.
Budget 2004-2005
Budget 2005-2006
Budget 2007-2008
Key Proposals
Customs duty of 3% imposed on aircrafts; and parts of aircrafts, imported for use
in such aircrafts.
Countervailing duty (CVD) of 16%, and special additional duty of customs of 4%
also imposed on such aircrafts. However, such duties not applicable to imports by
scheduled airline operators and Government
In 2001, 'Aviation Turbine Fuel sold to turbo-prop aircraft' was included in the list
of declared goods under section 14 of the CST Act (thereby capping the CST at
4%). The provision amended to cover all small aircraft with maximum takeoff
mass of less than 40,000 kgs operated by scheduled airlines.
Customs duty on Aluminium, Zinc, Copper, stainless steel and other ferroalloys
reduced from 7.5% to 5% in January 2007
Impact
Airlines operating smaller air-crafts will be positively impacted with the reduction
in ATF prices which is likely as a result of tax cut on ATF fuel.
The increase in duty and CVD will not impact the ‘scheduled’ airline operators.
The massive hike in outlay has been made primarily to help public sector carriers
Indian and Air India fund their fleet acquisition of 111 aircraft.
The hike will also aid the Airport Authority of India (AAI) develop 35 non-metro
and other airports.
ROADS & PORTS
Proposals
Examine recommendations of Deepak Parekh committee of using forex reserves
for funding infrastructure projects.
Increase in NHAI Outlay from Rs. 9,945 crore to Rs. 10,667 crore.
Impact
• The increased thrust on PPP and increased outlay under Bharat Nirman
and NHAI could favourably impact the pace of project execution. The
efficacy of the measures which have been announced to rein in cement
prices remains to be seen. The extent to which long term finances become
available for the sector as a result of the policy pronouncements made is
also uncertain at this stage
Union Minister for Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad announced that the year 2007-08
will be observed as ‘Cleanliness Year’ by the Indian Railways.
Special campaign will be launched to ensure cleanliness and hygiene at station
premises, in passenger trains, railway lines and waiting rooms etc.
The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Lalu Prasad has proposed an outlay
of Rs. 31,000 crore for the Annual Plan 2007-08. The outlay exceeds plan size for
the current year by 32 per cent and would be the largest Annual Plan for the
Railways so far.
The outlays of the Annual Plans over the last three years have increased by about
two and a half times and three-fourths of the Plan would be sourced from
Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR).
The Railway Ministry has sought additional fund of Rs. 2725 crore
from Ministry of Finance for the national projects of Jammu and Kashmir
and North Eastern Region.
These include Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla,
Jiribam-Imphal Road (Tupul) and Kumarghat-Agartala new line and
Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam gauge conversion projects.
The Railway Minister Shri Lalu Prasad has announced that a Joint Venture
Company would be set up with the Steel Industries Kerala Limited, Aleppey, a
public sector undertaking of Government of Kerala to manufacture the
passenger coaches.
The Union Minister for Railways announced that there would be no increase
in passenger fares during the year 2007-08 for any class of travel. A Variable
Fare Scheme has been proposed to be introduced under Dynamic Pricing
Policy. Discounts in fares at the rates indicated below shall be given in various
classes of travel.
Class Busy Season Lean Season
AC First 3% 6%
AC 2-Tier 2% 4%
AC-3 Tier (81 berths) 4% 8%
AC-3 Tier (64 berths) Nil Nil
AC CC (102 seats) 4% 8%
New Sleeper Coaches (84 4% 4%
berths)
Sleeper Class (72 berths) Nil Nil
In Popular trains, class-wise discounts indicated above for Busy Season shall be
applicable through out the year. The list of popular trains shall be notified separately.
Supplementary charges for Superfast Trains for Second Class shall be reduced from Rs.
10 to Rs. 8.
It has been proposed to introduce Tourist Tickets for any station to any station in Mumbai
Suburban area as a pilot project. The fares for Second Calls Tourist Tickets shall be as
under: -
1 Day Rs. 40.00
3 Day Rs. 75.00
5 Day Rs. 90.00
Daily tickets for Non-suburban Second Class Ordinary trains and Non-superfast
Mail/Express trains shall be reduced by Re. 1.00 per passenger.
FREQUENCIES OF 14 TRAINS TO BE INCREASED
The frequency of the following trains will be increased during this year. This was
announced by the Union Railway Minister Shri Lalu Prasad during his Budget speech in
the Parliament.