The Hindu : Passenger-friendly rail budget likely

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 23, 2003

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Passenger-friendly rail budget likely

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI FEB. 22. In the railway budget to be presented on February 26, the travelling public can expect a bonanza of several new trains and only a marginal increase in passenger fares. On the freight front, the bread and butter of the Railways, there may be a readjustment of commodities to rake in more revenue. After a recession-hit last fiscal, the target of 510 million tonnes of freight loading is likely to be met this time.

If indications from the Railway Ministry are to be believed, the budget would give enough room to the Railway Minister, Nitish Kumar, to manoeuvre and lay emphasis on several new areas such as upgrading of technology, export of locos and wagons, completion of important projects and the maximum utilisation of assets. After 16 "Jan Shatabdi'' trains were introduced in the last budget, new sectors such as a Buddhist circuit and places of tourist interest are likely to be linked with new trains.

Keeping in mind the recent spurt in train accidents, the Minister is likely to utilise the Rs. 17,000- crore non-lapsable Special Railway Safety Fund for maintenance and upgrading of the tracks and bridges as well as the rolling stock and signalling equipment.

A White Paper on safety is likely to be published with the budget. There would also be greater emphasis on transparency, utilisation of funds and accountability, sources indicated. Already, the General Managers and Divisional Railway Managers have been made accountable for accidents in their areas.

Though the Railways' financial position is comfortable, the Ministry has been the target of criticism for the number of train accidents since September last when the prestigious Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani Express crashed, killing 130 persons in Gaya, Bihar. Consequently, the General Managers have been given greater financial powers.

They can now sanction safety-related works and track renewals up to Rs. 50 lakhs per item. Their annual financial ceiling has been raised from Rs. 6 crores to Rs. 10 crores.

An ambitious "National Rail Vikas Yojana'' was launched by the Prime Minister on December 26 last by inaugurating three projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,570 crores.

As the funding of these projects is planned through a mix of budgetary and non-budgetary resources, the Railways can look forward to an easy availability of funds.

With an eye for the development of rail infrastructures through MoUs with the State Governments, the Railways is likely to explore it more vigorously.

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