The Hindu : National : Priority for passenger safety

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 07, 2004

National

National

Priority for passenger safety

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 6. The Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, said today that the safety of rail passengers would be accorded priority.

Presenting the 2004-05 Railway budget, he said that apart from giving more powers to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), manpower would be withdrawn from less important activities so that passenger safety took precedence over the protection of property. The Minister proposed more recruitment in the RPF and for manning 1,200 unmanned level crossings, emphasised the need for employment-generating measures, a special drive to fill up vacancies for the Other Backward Classes and a social security cover for the `extended' Railway family comprising porters, hawkers and vendors. Later talking to newspersons, Mr. Prasad also ruled out a voluntary retirement scheme.

Another highlight was the proposed "Village-on-Wheels" — a tourist train for the common man. In contrast to the "Palace-on-Wheels" being operated for the elite and upper-end tourists, the proposed train will take the rural folk to important places of religious and historical importance at an affordable cost.

With an eye on raising the revenue by enlarging the volume of freight, the Minister proposed a 10 per cent rebate in freight charges for transporting heavy machinery in customer-owned wagons. The consignee's technical staff will be permitted to travel free of charge on special trains as an additional incentive.

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