There has never been a dearth of committees and reviews in the government set up, and the Indian Railways is no exception to this. Look at the number of high-level committees, status reports, white papers, expert committees, safety reviews and what have you. The catch lies in the acceptance and implementation of the recommendations of these panels. The Kakodkar high-level railway safety review committee, which submitted its recommendations to Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Friday, is the latest addition to the list. It may not have said anything new or different from the past but it has chosen to tell the Railways how to mobilise the funds for a long overdue, massive safety upgrade programme over the next five years, with an estimate for Rs.1 lakh crore. What needs to be done for toning up railway safety is already well known: modern signalling, doing away with unmanned level crossings, replacing over-aged assets, and even introducing a new generation of coaches. Again, there is nothing new in recommending such a major programme. Way back in 2001, the Government of India, at the instance of the Indian Railways, set up a Special Railway Safety Fund to wipe out the arrears in major on-going projects such as track renewal, rolling stock, construction of over-bridges and so on. A minor surcharge was levied on users.
What's new about the Kakodkar committee is that it tells the Railways how to generate that level of funding. But is anybody listening? The committee has broken up the Rs.1 lakh crore programme into different components: Rs.20,000 crore for advanced signalling, Rs.50,000 crore for elimination of all level crossings, Rs.10,000 crore for new-design coaches, and Rs.20,000 crore for maintenance of safety-related infrastructure. The committee has suggested among other things, a safety cess on passengers to generate about Rs.5,000 crore every year, and doing away with the dividend payment of Rs.5,000 crore to the Government of India. After Nitish Kumar brought the Railways back from the brink, and Lalu Prasad took all the credit for prudent financial management, Mamata Banerjee had virtually brought the Indian Railways to a situation of a financial collapse. Even now, her nominee in Rail Bhavan, Dinesh Trivedi, seems utterly unwilling to raise passenger fares. For 10 years, there has been no revision. And he expects the Finance Minister to grant him a budget support of Rs.20,000 crore or more next month. It is time the Planning Commission and Finance Ministry took a serious look at the state of the Railways. For if India's biggest employer is unwilling to take even small steps towards better managing its finances, there is no sense in it having a separate annual budget.
Keywords: Indian Railways, Anil Kakodkar, high-level railway safety review committee, Dinesh Trivedi, safety measures
the problem with the Indian railways are structural and functional
both. at organisational level there is a need to transform it in to
a company type organisation under company act. social obligation can
only be met by working in a economically viable way. secondly, the
separate railway budget system should give way to unified budgeting.
thirdly, fares should be based on some scientific formula which can
be revised automatically with change in input cost, cross subsidy by
charging higher fares from freight segment and keeping the passenger
fare low should be stopped. the railway fares are highly undervalued
as compared to road sector especially in second and passenger class.
while at the freight segment the railway price are far higher and
due to this it has lost a major share to other mode of transport and
now just account for 30% of total freight sector.
we can take a piece meal reform approach because that will not root
out the problem but just postpone the collapse.
The largest PSU in the country is in the brink of crisis because of mishandling of high sensitive issue's like less number of general boggies which caters high volume of pessanger's rather than sleeper class or AC's ,less mordern singanaling system which leads delay in number of trains which result people expectation to reach destination timely remains a mere dream only,Delay in renovation of route due some accident. these are some burning isuue which needs immidiate focus by the governing body of railway to keep faith of people in railway.
When prices of gas cylinder,petrol--diesel etc. can be increased even
after so much of opposition of people,then why so fussy about this
price-hike, when this step is in the interest of general public?
Money can be generated by some indirect means also...by providing
better food with some more charges--payable toilet facilities... payable
accessaries like--new blankets...readable books on rent ...etc.
The reasons of the downfall of the national carrier is easy to see.
Inefficiency and complacency rule the roost at the administrative level.
The CVC's annual report for the year 2010 reveals that every third
official penalised for corruption in the country belongs to the
railways. Adding to it is the irresponsible handling of the affairs by
the political masters.
It is a pity that such a powerful, effective and affordable means of
transport, best suited for Indian conditions, is left to lurch by the
incompetent ministry/government. Whatever rays of hope seen during
Nitish's period have all vanished now!! Even the feeble advancement in the speed, seats etc are brought down by not adapting modern toilets and disposal system, which scares people to travel.
Coupled with this is the mismanagement of rakes. On the one hand we have quite a few trains where people get packed themselves like sardines and on the other, many trains are run on routes where there is practically zilch patronage. Better to hand over the organization to private companies and manage it effectively and make it a catalyst for the overall growth of the economy.
we need to increase fares, we need to modernize the railways. even a person unknown to the matter can tell, what is to done on ground level. Why everyone is talking about PPP and privatization, or budget allocation, why railways generate its own funds. Look at metros, which use intelligent advertising, and raise money, learn something from them.
Well, I stay in Mumbai and I think Railways can appoint a private compnay to manage its cleanliness/infrastucture. because being privately held they are responsible and answerable to higher authority.
With regards to revision in ticket cost (a way to raise funds) Although it may sound against people centric but I am personally agree to that, however, if railways do that, there is a very high chance of opposition taking up that point as an area to hit UPA (well i also dont mind opposition hitting UPA), but in all these Railways wont be able to achieve its objective.
the railway is struggling to come up from the burden of its sluggishness. the politico-bureaucratic management is totally failed in making the railway modern and safe. in pursuing the political goals of leaders and personal goals of officers the railway has totally lost its social obligation as well as commercial competence. the govt must have to come out of its political comfort zone to improve the deteriorating condition of indian railways
Indian Railways need an urgent revamp; at one side of the train you have ac coaches with power plugs and even internet and at the other side, the general bogies people sit even in toilets covering it with newspaper. Indian Railways is a perfect example of the widening gap between the rich and poor in the country. General bogies are always crowded; it is the cattle class of railways. Nothing much has changes since independence when “Indians” were not allowed to sit in the first class. Poor Indian cannot think beyond general class. In terms of finances I think increase in the number of general class bogies in each train can generate huge revenues as demand is at least 5 times the capacity. More number of general coaches will reduce the rush and make ticket checking more efficient and hence increasing the revenues further.
That India's largest employer the Indian Railways, maintains the cheapest transport tariff has brought whiff of air for the lowest mortals. It is sad that it is seen limping for resources now. The Centre that is used to oxygenate corporates throug tax exemptions running to crores, should be considerate to the cheapest service provider by loosening the strings of its purse. The lacs of contract labourers in Railways deserve permanent status to augment efficiency and accountability. Let us not forget that Railways had played a crucial role in mobilizing freedom fighters from nook and corner of the country to show the British the door. Better wisdon dawn on centre to rush to the retrieval of the behemoth public sector from the present crisis.
The best point brought out here is:
After Nitish Kumar brought the Railways back from the brink, and Lalu
Prasad took all the credit for prudent financial management.
We indeed punished the wrong alliance(read NDA) in 2004.
The railways have always been abused by various governments and political parties
to further their agendas. The real logistical and infrastructural problems are already mindboggling in their own right and can only be addressed by shielding the railways administration from the government in Delhi. One might appoint a board of advisors for guiding and supervising the renovation and overhauling of the entire railway system. Such a board would receive the necessary funds directly from the central government through a separate budget clause, bypassing the railways minister altogether and be answerable to the budget commission directly. The appointment of the members would also be fixed for the duration of the assignment, with no political representation here.
Of course, the task would require force of character from the PM and one would still need to keep corruption in check in the face of the sheer amount of funds dedicated to this mammoth task.
A very simple question -- "Railway needs funds". Here is a very simple answer "Please earn, generate funds and don't beg".
Definitely as common indian man , i don't want the raise in the fares but if you look accordingly the infrastructure of indian railways, it nothing in comparison to the world-class railways of some other countries. We need to take the railways to that level. In the journey to that level, the fare price needs to be raised.
Railwasys need funds alright. But they need not splash money at this
juncture on bullet trains. World over there is a rethinking on this
new infrastructure animal. A geo-enginering railqway expert has been
quoted by a British newaspaper yesterzay to the effect that trains
running at speeds of 225kmp are likely to cause catastrophic
derailment. Why enter into such grey areas. A lot mroe needs to be
done urgently for people in distant regions and udnerdevelooped areas
and naxalite infested territories. Will the PM intervene in this
context in the railway planning? At any rate, will the opposition
aprties raise all these issues when the railway budget is presented?
To manage Rlys efficiently, FUNDS are badly needed and administation must find ways - including fare increase, (can't omit for popularity as fuel and other costs have escalated a lot) and improve commitment to customers thru staff training; prevent ticketless and goondas boarding reserved compartments with police help and put them to jail to send a strong lesson to public; ALSO reduce the PRIVILEGES of high and mighty (incl MPs MLAs) to get free travel concessions except in rare cases of duty; MUST operate on healthy basis to provide decent travel and comfort; WHO WILL BELL the CAT?
Both the UPAs have ruined the hard work of Nitish. Have brought my favourite means of transport to extinction.
Guys,
we need toilets in railways which don't leak. Manual scavenging needs to be abolished. Any takers ?
Today train is not a symbol of integrity but it definitely disturbs integrity-
It doesnt have reserved births for elders, patients & pregnents though it has for MPs, MLAs.
How can a mother feed infant in a second class? Does she has that minimum privacy?
Railway Segregates people. Poor in 3rd Class, rich in AC. Whereas TC in AC coach wears tie & show sense of hospitality, his behaviour is that of animal when he enters General. Arent they humans?
Its becoming quite rare to get confirm tickets. Misery is that even educated person is forced to pay bribe to TC & sleep on the ground floor in 2nd class. It hurts sense of self respect. And friction that it generates between copassengers (who might be from other religion or language), leads not to integrity but scepticism about them.
We r helpless while travelling with our family when some arrogant youth misbehave & no authority cares.
Thats why we prefer Air over rail. And they call it growing richness of Indians. How pity!
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