Modi stresses on Need to Focus on Rapid Reforms in Railways
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu gets pat from PM Modi yet again – for accelerating the pace of development of Indian Railways
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that there are several ongoing reforms in Railways, which are not being focused upon.
“No one has given attention to the reforms being undertaken in railways till now. Those who talk of big reforms can see how much changes have come in the Railways,” Modi said at the launch of Setu Bharatam Project here. “Indian Railways needs fundamental changes…..Many MPs get happy with announcement of projects announced for their constituency in Parliament….but many of them will not be implemented,” said Modi, while inaugurating the Sethubharatam project, a project to strengthen the bridges.
“Railways is being taken towards electrification….nobody has focused on railway reforms….We are improving quality of infrastructure,” said Modi.
Road, rail, water connectivity, electricity generation, electricity supply — are some most basic changes that the government will focus on.
The PM congratulated the Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, for focusing on improving bridges through the Sethubharatam project.
He added that in universities, engineering and architecture students can focus on infrastructure, particularly bridge improvement, which can create a lot of jobs.
Prabhu has unleashed a series of reform measures to make the Railways a financially viable organisation. While steps have been taken to constitute a regulatory authority to decide on fares and also to give a level playing field to private investors in railways, a separate Railway Planning and Investment Organisation will be formed to work out various investment opportunities. Railways will also set up a holding company for all Railway PSUs for better coordination and consolidation in fiscal matter. Prabhu has announced launching of seven missions to take forward activities with time bound targets.
Missions are for switching over to 25 tonne axle load, increasing speeds, accounting reforms, commissioning 100 sidings/private freight terminals in 2016-17, preparing a blueprint of utilizing the network once DFC is commissioned, zero accident for safety and for procurement and consumption efficiency.
Modi had also praised Prabhu yesterday for accelerating the pace of development of railway infrastructure network while replying on President’s Address in Lok Sabha. PM had compared the money spent on rail projects, such as laying of new lines, doubling, gauge conversion and electrification and commissioning of new lines during UPA’s 10-year rule and NDA’s two-year period to counter opposition’s barb on his government’s performance in the House. “The average yearly spending for development of railways during 10 years of UPA was Rs 9,291 crore and it was Rs 32,597 crore in our two years,” PM had said adding “How much new rail lines were laid? During UPA-I, the average was 1477 km… It improved slightly during UPA-II to 1520 km and during NDA it is 2290 km.” Defending Prabhu’s decision not to announce new trains in the Railway budget, Modi said that earlier trains were announced in Parliament to get claps from a few MPs but now the focus in railways has changed to laying new lines, gauge conversion, electrification.
In this connection, PM had also reviewed sector-wise beneficiaries of the Railway Budget 2016-17 which are complied below:-
| Interest group/Subject | Initiatives in Budget |
| SAFETY | 946 ROB/RUB sanctioned |
| Launch Mission Zero accident | |
| Eliminate all unmanned BG crossings in next 3 years | |
| Equip the high density network (10,000Kms) with TCAS in next 3 years | |
| PROJECT/ CAPEX | Rs.1.21 lakh total capex size – 20% increase than last year’s target |
| Commissioning of 2800 Kms of BG line vs this year’s target of 2500 Kms | |
| Massive push on electrification – 50% increase in outlay. Target to accomplish 2000Kms vs 1600 Kms this year | |
| CUSTOMER AMENITIES | Launch of Tejas express: Premium superfast with many onboard facilities such as entertainement, better aesthetics, vending machines, ushers |
| Launch of Humsafar express – Full 3AC, fast train with optional food services | |
| Launch of UDAY (Utkrisht Double decker AC Yatri)- Overnight, double decker superfast service on highly patronized routes | |
| Launch of Rail Mitra Sewa – Comprehensive concierge services including battery operated cars, porter services, wheel chairs etc | |
| Travel Insurance facility for passengers | |
| Sale of UTS tickets through handheld POS terminals | |
| Cancellation of tickets through 139 | |
| All operational halts converted into commercial halts | |
| CCTV survellience of Tatkal counters to prevent miscreant activity | |
| PA systems leased out to FM Radio companies in trains | |
| Bar-coded tickets, scanners and access control at select stations | |
| Launch multi purpose stalls on stations | |
| Hourly booking of Retiring rooms | |
| Introduction of SMART coaches – better customer experience, high carrying capaicty and lower costs | |
| Standardized uniforms across all Railways for customer facing roles | |
| PR skill training for customer facing roles | |
| Rail Bandhu – on Board managzine expansion to all A/C reserved class in all Mail Express trains and all regional languages | |
| New uniforms for Porters with advertising banners. Soft skill training to improve customer experience. Would be known as ‘Sahayak’ | |
| Sale of platform tickets through ticket vending machines | |
| Provision of normal debit/credit card usablity at ticket vending machines | |
| GPS enabled LED boards to provide real time information of approaching stops on trains | |
| Information boards in trains to communicate various on-board services2 | |
| COMMON MAN/ POOR | Launch of new service – Antyodaya express : Unreserved, second class, superfast trains. |
| Introduction of Deen Dayal coaches for general passengers with aenhanced facilities such as Potable water, water level indicators, mobile charging points | |
| DIVYANG | All new stations to be redeveloped would be made accessible by all |
| One divyang toilet per platform on A1 class stations | |
| Increased availability of wheelchairs on platforms | |
| CLEANLIENSS | Pan India proliferation of ‘ Clean my coach service’ |
| Regular third party audits to generate rankings for stations | |
| Setting up of Waste segregation centres | |
| Additional 30,000 bio toilets | |
| Installation and Maintenance of Portable bio toilets at major stations – Leverage advertisementing potential, CSR, and support from Voluntary organisations | |
| Awareness campaigns to improve cleanliness including approach roads and adjacent colonies | |
| CATERING | Hand back catering to IRCTC in a phased manner – Primary objective to unbundle food preparation and food disbursement to break the nexus of overcharging passengers |
| E Catering extended from current 45 stations to all 408 A1 and A class stations | |
| Ready to Eat meals onboard | |
| Explore making mandatory food on trains optional. Local cuisine to me made available. | |
| Base Kitchens to be set up by IRCTC to ensure high quality hygeinic food | |
| Third Party audit of catering services | |
| SHGS | Empanelment by IRCTC for catering services |
| E-Marketing of products through IRCTC in partnership with NABARD | |
| NGOS | IR to partner with prominent NGO’s to partner for skill development of people in rural areas including Railway employees |
| Appeal to NGOs to support Cleanliness, Sanitation, Skill development and Energy conservation initiatives in IR | |
| Parternship with Khadi and Village Industries Commission to support emplyoment creation for rural India | |
| WOMEN | Launch of Janani Sewa – Provide Kids Menu and changing boards in Toilets |
| Provision of hot milk, hot water and baby food at Stations | |
| Rail Mitra Sewa including wheel chairs, battery operated cars for Senior citizens, women and Patients | |
| More toilets for Women at stations | |
| Sub quota of 33% in award of licences for stalls and services at stations | |
| SENIOR CITIZENS | 50% increase in lower berth quota taking the total lower berths availability to 120 per train |
| Rail Mitra Sewa including wheel chairs, battery operated cars for Senior citizens, women and Patients | |
| FARMERS/ FISHERMAN | Preferential usage for cold storage warehouses being set up on empty Railway land through PPP |
| SC/ST | Enforcement of reservation in awarding of contracts for stalls at stations |
| Encourage employment for SC/ST through horticulture and tree plantation at side of tracks | |
| Encourage SC/ST enterprenuers in partnership with Khadi and Village Industries Commission | |
| Promoting tribal art through murals on stations | |
| RELIGIOUS ORG | Launch Aastha circuit connecting various pilgrim centres |
| Beautification and provision of passenger amenities for stations of religious interests | |
| STUDENTS | Kalam express to be launched to share innovative solutions to common daily problems |
| Internships for over 100 students/year across Engineering and MBA schools | |
| Establish Railway University in this financial year | |
| NORTH EAST | Expedited execution of connecting all state capitals – Mizoram and Manipur to be connected in this year |
| WILD LIFE | Launch of Tiger circuit to cover Pench, Bhandavgarh and Kanha |
| Spreading awareness through paintings on stations | |
| ENVIRONMENT | All Railway stations to be covered with LED luminaries in next 2-3 years |
| Switch to environment friendly composite sleepers made of recycled plastic | |
| Set up Automatic coach washing plants to support water conservation | |
| Convert production units (atleast one in each zonal railway) as Green Industrial units | |
| Rain water harvesting on buildings with roof area of more than 200sqm post feasability studies | |
| Set waste segregation and water recycling plants | |
| Puruse the medium term plan to get 132.5 MW of power through wind energy | |
| Pursue the target of achieving 100 MW of Solar Power in next 5 years | |
| GOVERNANCE | Tabling the bill for Rail Development Authority with in next 6 months |
| Regular security audit of PRS website | |
| Operational research to improve rake turnaround at select terminals | |
| Commence integration of IT initiatives under a system wide Enterprise Resource Planning architecture | |
| Roll out the mechanism of internal audit to ensure 2 full audit reports per zone | |
| Sign MoUs with zonal railways to enhance commitment on performance on clearly stated parameters | |
| Single person accountability for all facilities on a train | |
| Atleast 20 projects on EPC for FY16-17. Move to EPC for above Rs 300 crore projects by next year | |
| All A1 stations to have senior Station Directors, supported through a cross functional team | |
| EMPLOYEES | Tie up with Ministry of Health to improve Central Railway Hospitals |
| Introduce AYUSH systems in 5 railway hospitals | |
| Provide wireless devices to gang men to alert them of approaching trains | |
| Reduce the weights of tools carried by gangman,trackman through value engineering | |
| Toilets and Air conditioning in Locomotive cabs for drivers | |
| SKILLING | Set up ‘Centres of Excellence’ for Skill Development in 1/2 workshops |
| PR skill training for customer facing roles | |
| IR to partner with prominent NGO’s to partner for skill development of people in rural areas including Railway employees | |
| DIGITAL INDIA | Integration of all ticketing services on one app |
| Integration of all customer feedback and complaint forums on one app | |
| Commence integration of IT initiatives under a system wide Enterprise Resource Planning architecture | |
| Handheld PoS terminals for sale of tickets – Target to reduce queue lengths | |
| Best in class project management system based on drone and geo spatial technology – To be piloted for Dedicated freight corridor | |
| Expand E-procurement into a paperless contract management system | |
| TRANSPARENCY | CCTV coverage of Tatkal counters |
| Expand E-procurement into a paperless contract management system | |
| YOUTH /INNOVATION | Internships for over 100 students/year across Engineering and MBA schools |
| Dedicated innovation fund to promote internal and external innovation. | |
| FOREIGNERS | Ticket booking through international credit/debit cards |
| JOURNALISTS | E-ticketing facility on concessional passes |
| TOURISM | Partner State governments for operating tourist trains on revenue sharing |
| Upgraded National Rail Museum, Focus on promotion of other museums and heritage sites | |
| Run Tiger circuit train with full travel package offerings | |
| SUBURBAN | Mumbai – Push MUTP III and 2 elevated corridors Churchgate – Virar and CSTM-Panvel |
| Mumbai – Raise height of platforms with next year | |
| Delhi – Work with State government to revive the Ring Railway consisting of 21 stations | |
| Bangalore – Work with State government to build a comprehensive suburban system | |
| Explore feasability of partnering with State governments for Suburban systems in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Chennai | |
| Trivandrum – Work with State government to develop a suburban system | |
| New investment policy outlining the engagement model with State governments for Suburban systems to be launched | |
| Business | Initiative |
| FREIGHT | Full fledged market study on 40+ commodities |
| Launch of new delivery models e.g., Roll On Roll Off | |
| Container traffic to be opened for all commodities except Coal and Mineral Ores | |
| Pilot on time tabled freight, parcel and container trains | |
| All good sheds to be opened for Container traffic, if operationally feasible | |
| Rationalize tarriff structure | |
| Multi point loading allowed | |
| Part load container trains to be allowed during non peak season | |
| Long term contracts with pre-determined price escalation | |
| Differential tarriffs based on congestion on route | |
| Key customer managers for big freight customers | |
| Liberalise the PFT/ Siding policy | |
| Online portal for PFT/ Siding approvals | |
| Explore feasability of opening up of General purpose wagons for leasing | |
| Operationalise Transloc | |
| Take up modernization of 10 good sheds | |
| Lease out space in railway warehouses to be utilised by third parties in lieu of modernisation and additional revenues | |
| Develop cold storage warehouses on empty railway land on PPP | |
| Complete overhaul of Parcel business including opening the sector to container traffic and online booking of Parcels | |
| NON FARE REVENUES | Leverage Non fare revenues through – Station development, Advertising (additional 1000 Crores, 4 times current revenues), Monetising data, Monetising land, Overhaul of Parcel, Exports |
| Target to earn Rs 4000 Cr through exports by 2020. | |
| Transform Parcel business – Liberalise the policy | |
| PASSENGER | Preference to local domicile holders for award of commercial licenses at stations |
| Introduction of FM channles in trains on PPP basis | |
| Support in installation, operation and maintenance of toilets by attracting CSR funds from corporates | |
| Providing PR skills to customer facing personnel on a PPP basis | |
| Install GPS based LED boards to provide real time information on upcoming halts in lieu of advertising rights | |
| Install information boards in trains in lieu of advertising rights | |
| Build satellite terminals with state partnerships in PPP mode |
| SNo | Structural Initiatives |
| 1 | Launch 7 missions – 25 Ton, Zero accident, PACE, RAFTAAR, Century, Accounting Reforms, Capacity Utilisation |
| 2 | Leverage Non fare revenues through – Station development, Advertising (additional 1000 Crores, 3 times current revenues), Monetising data, Monetising land, Overhaul of Parcel, Exports |
| 3 | Target to earn Rs 4000 Cr through exports by 2020. |
| 4 | Transform Parcel business – Liberalise the policy |
| 5 | Restructure the organisation – Unified cadre, Cross functional directorates |
| 6 | Set up Railway Planning and Investment organisation |
| 7 | Set up SRESHTHA (Special Railway Establishment for Strategic Technology and Holistic Advancement), niche railway research organisation |
| 8 | Set up SUTRA ( Special Unit for Transportation Research and Analytics), dedicated, cross functional data analytics team, manned with professional analysts |
| 9 | Launch National Rail Plan – to harmonise and integrate the rail network with other modes of transportation |
| 10 | Set up a Holding Company for all Railway PSUs |
| 11 | Build a test track to cut short the cycle of introduction of new rolling stock |
It is for the second time in succession when Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented a Rail-Budget with no political colour. It was a usual practice of earlier Railway Ministers of various parties and regimes that they used to shower rail-gifts for their constituencies and states. But Suresh Prabhu has broken such an unholy political tradition of all earlier Union Railway Ministers.
Union Railway Minister should take care of increasing complaints about food-quality and unhygienic conditions where food to be served in trains is prepared. Also there is a sizable number of rail-passengers which do not consume rail-food because of some peculiar food-habits like ‘Jain Food’ without onion and garlic despite their being ‘forced’ compulsory paying cost of food with cost of rail-ticket in trains like ‘Rajdhani’ and ‘Shatabdi’. Variety of branded packaged food by reputed companies should be made available on payment of cost by giving sale-commission to rail staff. Abolishing charging food-cost with rail-fare will not only ensure hygiene but also will abolish ‘begging’ tips by rail-staff from the passengers. Rather scope of Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) can be increased for preparing packaged food like is done in case of ‘Rail-Neer’ (mineral water).
Union Railway Ministry and Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs should formulate some system whereby cost of non-travel by Parliamentarians on their reserved accommodation may be charged from personal pockets of erring Parliamentarians. Presently it is quite often that Parliamentarians do not care to cancel reservation in case of non-travel because they have not to personally suffer any cost for non-travel resulting in usual ‘No vacancy’ chart especially in first-class air-conditioned rail-travel. Parliamentarians should be allowed free rail-facility only in second-class air-conditioned rail-travel with priority in reservation. Travel in higher class may only be on payment of cost-difference from personal pockets of Parliamentarians.
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