A day before presenting his maiden budget in Parliament, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said on Monday that there was a demand for more trains. But he did not disclose whether he would concede it, as his predecessors did.
“The government is for the people. You will have to see the budget from that point of view…,” he said at an informal chat with reporters, when asked whether the budget would be people-friendly.
Mr. Bansal clarified that the UPA government, not the Congress, would present the budget, as reporters pointed to the fact that a Congress Minister was going to present the Railway budget after 16 years.
At a function later, Mr. Bansal disclosed that he was overwhelmed by demands for more trains from MPs as well as the public. He had resolved to make the Railways the most preferred mode of transport.
The Railways signed a memorandum of understanding with BHEL for setting up a factory at Bhilwara in Rajasthan to turn out Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains.
Apart from Mr. Bansal, Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Patel was present on the occasion.
BHEL will set up the factory and supply the Railways with 400 units a year.
The Rajasthan government has promised to allot land free of cost for the project, which has the potential to industrialise the region.
Mr. Bansal said MPs were demanding more intercity services and the Railways were gearing up to meet the growing demand.
At present, the Railways had just 160 units, but over the next 10 years the demand would go up to 9,000 units, of which the BHEL factory was expected to account for 5,000.
One more unit was being planned in West Bengal to bridge the shortfall, the Minister said.
The quality of MEMU trains would be improved, and the new ones would be more passenger-friendly, featuring, for instance, toilets.
More or less this is a balanced budget. However he could have considered the following also to improve facilities and revenue:
1. Linking cities close to tourist spots with special trains on monthly or weekly basis
2. Linking cities where large hospitals are located to improve medical tourism to bring in revenue
3. Increasing Garib Rath days instead of weekly to thrice in a week to reduce the rush.
4. Introducing Garib Rath trains to Delhi to Hyderabad, Delhi to Bangalore, Delhi to Palakkad via Chennai, Delhi to Jodhpur will help the people a lot.
5. Ensuring clean coaches with perfect toilets. Toilets in all classes must be cleaned at every 250 or 300 kms.
6. Ensuring the best food served in the long distance trains.
7. Announcing the name of the approaching station (where the train stops), atleast 15 minutes before arrival. This will help the passengers, particularly in A/C coaches to get ready, in night time.
7. Train Superintendent whereabout must be known to all
Hope and see, atleast this budget will benefit for the
needy travelling people, after 16 years a congress minister
is going to present it, in the maiden buget if he allots the
no of trains, that must come to effect otherwise there is
no need for presentation of a budget for the people.
the picture shows how scant respect does human lives get from us. While
foot board travelling is kind of necessary evil, the people in the front
of the train is totally unacceptable. If this photo was staged, then
forget it. But if this is reality, then the Train Driver should Refuse
to start the train. I don't see anything to even hold on to.
Can we have someone look into this please?
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