Railways improving but long way to go: Suresh Prabhu

Railways is improving but it just a beginning and there is a "long way to go", Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said.

By PTI | Updated: Aug 04, 2015, 08.12 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Railways is improving but it just a beginning and there is a "long way to go", Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said today as he talked about various initiatives, including launch of bullet trains and tapping solar energy, as part of modernising the national transporter.

Replying to a debate on Supplementary Demands for Excess Grants (Railways) in the Lok Sabha, he mentioned a number of steps taken by the NDA government to improve the functioning of railways, which include e-catering for 2000 trains, cleanliness drives and checking of ticketless travel.

He also talked about the problem of train delays and efforts to ensure punctuality.

According to Prabhu, as many as 79 items announced in the last Railway Budget in February have already been implemented.

Railways is improving but it just a beginning and there is a "long way to go", the Minister said as he responded to issues and concerns raised by members in the House which was boycotted by Congress and nine other parties.

Talking about the ambitious bullet train project that is estimated to cost over Rs 1 lakh crore, he said various options are being looked at while asserting that it will not be implemented at the cost of services to common man.

"It (proposed bullet trains) will not at the expenses of services to common man...," he said in an apparent response to criticism from some quarters that the government is planning bullet trains while not doing much to help the common people.

"We are trying to find the viability of bullet train project," Prabhu said.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency has already submitted the final feasibility study report of the proposed high-speed rail system on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, which is expected to reduce the travel time on the 505-kilometre long corridor to two hours from the existing more than seven hours.

He said efforts were also underway to tap solar energy for the railways which will help reduce dependence on diesel and electricity.

The Railways would be working with states for setting up joint ventures to implement more number of projects apart from another proposal to tap solar energy for the railways, he said.

To meet the energy requirements of the railways, Prabhu said the ministry plans to "solarise" its offices and in this regard an MoU is to be signed with the Power Ministry in the next few days.

He said 17 states have agreed for joint ventures with the Railways, which would help implement more railway projects along with state governments.

An agreement has already been inked with Maharashtra, which has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore for developing rail infrastructure.

The Minister also said that various railway projects are being initiated to connect North Eastern states.

Referring to the signing of an agreement with NSCN (IM) yesterday, Prabhu said, "it is a historic pact with Naga friends and is part of overall strategy for North East development."

After the reply, the Lok Sabha, possibly in a rare instance, approved Demands for Excess Grants (Railways) of Rs 2719 crore related to 2012-13 period.

While piloting the bill, Prabhu took a swipe at the previous UPA government to which the Demands for Grant concerned, saying "We are performing the task that is not directly related to our government."

In an apparent reference to opposition which boycotted the House, he said, "we don't believe in politics, we believe in the smooth functioning of Parliament... Everything is subservient to national interest".

He said the Modi government believes in the highest principles of democratic functioning.

Talking about railway finances, Prabhu said the operating ratio is now highest in the last seven years while in the last fiscal, it registered one of the highest completion rate in terms of commissioning of new lines.

To meet capital expenditure needs, the Railways has inked an agreement with LIC whereby the country's largest insurer would provide Rs 1,50,000 crore over a period of five years for developing rail infrastructure, Prabhu said.

He said a joint group has been set up to look at ways to ensure that there is a balance between the interest of hawkers and convenience of passengers.

Several members including Om Birla, Gopal Shetty, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Ajay Mishra (all BJP), Prataprao Jadhav (Shiv Sena), P Ravindra Babu (TDP), P S Chandumajra (SAD) and G Hari (AIADMK) also participated in the discussion.

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