Announcing the arrival of ……. Railway Budget 2014-2015

Bangalorean Sadananda Gowda, the Union Minister for Railways,  presented Narendra Modi’s maiden Railway budget, this day, the 08/07/2014.

Since the fare and freight hike already underwent an upward revision about a week ago, today’s exercise looks more like an elongated mission statement.  The increased budget allocation for cleanliness for the current year by 40 per cent over the previous year is commendable.  The budget is more a combo of many things – introducing new trains, improving amenities, dreaming bullet trains, office on wheels …..  Also, improvement of the catering quality, ready-to-eat reputed brands in trains, proposal to set up food courts at major stations, introducing  bio-toilets, use of CCTVs at stations to monitor cleanliness activities, provision of potable water are some of the interesting features proposed in Mr. Gowda’s railway document.

A word on bullet trains.  Can our tracks carry the bullet trains?  Are we ready to reset the tracks?  Elsewhere I had read that train running at 225 kmp are likely to cause catastrophic derailment.  For the moment, let us slow down the “bullet” plans and address other basic priorities. The moment one says railway safety, it instantly reminds “unmanned level crossings”.

Bio-toilet, the much-needed amenity, given the Indian hygiene culture, must be extended to all the coaches and stations irrespective of the class of travel without levying any extra charges.  It is even more relevant in the backdrop of stress on water supply.

Mr. Gowda’s proposal to introduce special pilgrim trains for various religious circuits like Jain circuit, Christian circuit, Muslim circuit, Sikh circuit etc. should be considered with caution, from the security perspective.

It is learnt that there are 2.5 lakh posts lying vacant in the railways and out of these 1.6 lakh posts are in departments directly concerned with the railway safety.  Add to this the additional man-power requirements on account of the proposed increase of 58 new trains in the present budget. Mr. Gowda should be aware of the safety factor.

Mr. Gowda has not proposed any deadline to achieve the ambitious plans. Nor has he spelt out with any clarity about balancing the much-required finance.  Of course, the Honourable Railway Minister made a mention to “attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)” to the cause of modernisation of the largest Public Sector Undertaking.  The idea is undoubtedly luring, but will the FDI investors step in without expecting returns? 

The politico-bureaucratic management has so far failed in making the railway modern and safe.  The government must come out of its political comfort zone to improve the deteriorating condition of Indian Railways.  Make the Railway Board  members and General Managers  of all the Railway Zones accountable for their decisions, while at the same time, freedom should be given to take decisions without interference from the Ministry.  Introduce modern audit and vigilance methods to prevent wastages and frauds.

Mr. Gowda, can we, by whatever you have proclaimed in the budget, take it as a green signal?

The solution is very simple, at the same time  not at all easy.  Yes, the two-word wonder : “Political will”

Have a safe and passenger-friendly journey, Sir!