The Modi government's maiden railway budget (reported on July 9) indicates a paradigm shift in the history of the Railways. Proposals for safer and faster journeys raise new hope. With the introduction of measures for cleaner travel, let us hope passengers will get to travel in greater comfort. The move to upgrade the reservation system deserves applause. Introducing a Railway university is also a great proposal. Many passengers may be ready to pay more for better amenities.
Gadha Madhav,
Thiruvananthapuram
The Union Railway Minister has presented a practical-minded and development-oriented budget without being swayed by populism. The government should also clear the backlog of projects. Details of PPP and FDI in the Railways need further deliberation.
A.V. Narayana Sarma,
Secunderabad
The thrust towards greater speed, security and better amenities are laudable, innovative, tech-savvy and passenger-friendly. Although fares have not been raised again, they will continue to rise as they have been cleverly linked to fuel-pricing, which is no longer pocket-friendly. It is ironic that the BJP government, which was once so anti-FDI, now moots this route to bring about a sea change.
C.A.C. Murugappan,
Kothamangalam
The real maiden budget was already presented when passenger fares were hiked by 14.2 per cent and freight tariff (charges) by 6.5 per cent. Tuesday’s exercise was a mere formality and a cosmetic exercise (Editorial, July 9). The proposal to link fares with fuel prices comes as a shock to the common man. The target of providing more amenities and upgradation through FDI could well have been accomplished with the existing Railway workforce. The appointment of more RPF constables instils little confidence because the RPF has done precious little to enhance passenger safety. Bullet trains cannot be run with the existing infrastructure.
M.Y. Shariff,
Chennai
The budget bears all the hallmarks of a neoliberal agenda waiting to be unleashed. The green signal to unfettered FDI and other elitist measures are signs that the country’s largest PSU is heading towards privatisation. The fare-to- fuel price link is another jolt to the beleaguered public. Commercial viability far outweighs social obligations here and this only shows the regard the government has for the common man.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Tiruchi
Analysing per capita revenue in terms of compartments/classes, it may well be more for unreserved compartments than reserved ones. Hence, the fare hike should be minimal for unreserved passengers and more for the sleeper and higher classes.
T. Govindaraj,
Thanjavur
It is shameful that no emphasis has been laid on the mountain railway systems, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in particular which enjoys World Heritage status. Most of our mountain railway systems can be turned around if proper attention is paid to their maintenance.
Albert Devakaram,
Chennai
The budget is by and large pro-rich and pro-Hindi belt. The introduction of bullet trains shows that there is priority for business interests over the common man’s. The Railways must discharge its social obligations and subsidise train travel for the common man
Matthew Adukanil,
Dharmapuri
The bullet train idea requires a proper feasibility survey. Because of FDI and the ancillaries, ticket prices will be very high. Will there be insurance cover built into the ticket price? It will largely be the affluent who travel on such trains. Technically, the whole running stock will need a thorough check. Finally, what would be the power consumption? Does India really need such a fancy project?
I.P.P. Prabhakara Rao,
Secunderabad
The budget provides ample indication of what to expect from the general budget — a path to appease the rich. The poor and the middle class will have to understand the realities in order not to face a rude shock as the Brazilian football team did.
G.B. Sivanandam,
Coimbatore
This elitist budget completely ignores the fact that the Indian Railways is as much a social project as it is a commercial venture by virtue of its user and employee base — a picture that is not going to change in another generation or two. Its recent commercial success is just limited to the fact that it is self-supporting only operationally. It was not so in the past because a big chunk of its earnings was going to new projects like lines, doubling, electrification and so on that are now down to a trickle. It needs budgetary support for huge capital needs, which it deserves because of the immense contribution it makes to India’s social cohesion. Projects like bullet trains are criminal. Just one monstrous project could eat up whatever the Railways can earn throughout the country. The budget presents a picture of lopsided priorities. It must also give a picture of how China funded its rapid expansion of the railways.
M. Balakrishnan,
Bangalore
Rs.5 lakh crore is required for ongoing projects alone, with surplus revenues declining and there being hardly any resources for development works. The budget should have concentrated more on developing the present system than laying stress on new projects.
Unmilan Kalita,
Guwahati
