Pink Book - Discontinuation

 Pink Book - Discontinuation 

The Indian Railways has decided to discontinue the publication of the traditional "Pink Book" and will instead issue comprehensive, zone-wise budget documents.

Key Points:

• The Ministry of Railways has ceased the publication of the annual 'Pink Book,' which traditionally detailed budgetary allocations for various zonal railways and production units.

• In place of the Pink Book, the Railways will now prepare comprehensive budget documents tailored for each Zonal Railway and Production Unit. These documents will incorporate details of earnings, working expenses, capital expenditure, and lists of works.

• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed this shift in Parliament, stating that the work of preparing these new documents has already begun.

• The Pink Book served as a guide for fund allocation across railway zones, including specifics on spending for safety-related works, maintenance, infrastructure development, doubling of lines, and new projects.

• There has been a delay in the release of the new zone-wise budget documents, which has affected project planning in certain regions such as Southern Railway.

History of the Pink Book in Indian Railways

• The Pink Book has historically been an annual publication released by the Ministry of Railways after the Union Budget.

• It provided detailed budgetary allocations for Zonal Railways, Production Units, and Railway Board-sanctioned works.

• It listed sanctioned projects under heads like New Lines, Doubling, Gauge Conversion, Electrification, Passenger Amenities, Safety Works, and Rolling Stock Procurement.

• It was called the 'Pink Book' due to the color of its cover, following a government budgeting color-code tradition.

• Used widely by officials from Board level to divisions for planning, monitoring, and implementation of works.

• After the 2017 merger of the Railway Budget with the Union Budget, the Pink Book’s central role was re-evaluated.

• The discontinuation marks a shift towards decentralized planning with each zone getting a tailor-made budget document.