The Standing Committee on Railways recently presented its report on Demands for Grants (2024-25) from the Ministry of Railways, citing a number of critical areas of concern and prompting action for improvement in Indian Railways’ efficiency as well as safety. For example, one of the most significant recommendations was to accelerate the introduction of the advanced safety system, Kavach, while improving food quality during train journeys and offering services at competitive prices.
Need for Speed in Kavach Deployment
Kavach, the essential safety system that aims at preventing train collision, has proved promising in its initial implementation across the Indian Railway network. So far, Kavach has been installed on 1,465 route kilometers of South Central Railway and 80 kilometers on North Central Railway. It opines further on the slow deployment rate. Further, it suggests speeding up the efforts to cover vast territories with Kavach. The Committee also stressed the need for installing speedier Kavach along prime routes like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai and other high-density corridors ensuring the safety of millions traveling by rail.
Catering Services: Quality at Low Costs
Catering services have always been a contentious affair for Indian Railways, often complaining by passengers about low-quality food and high cost. The Standing Committee issued a red flag over revenues being lost in catering services; however, it emphasized upholding the quality of the food while keeping it relatively cheap. The Committee recommended that the Railway Ministry take steps to offer quality meals at competitive prices to the passengers so that there is no financial burden on either the travelers or the Indian Railways.
Review of Passenger Fares and Operating Expenses
The report also brought forth a need for the review of the passenger fare, which today stands at Rs 80,000 crore for the year 2024-25. Compared to the freight revenues at Rs 1,80,000 crore, this was sought to be examined by the Committee in consultation with the Ministry to assess the operating cost for passenger trains and to make it affordable to tickets by rationalizing the cost incurred. Passenger services though significant to revenue are essential for all classes of society.
Modernization and Infrastructure Investment
Modernization of Indian Railways infrastructure has been an ongoing challenge that demands considerable investment. The Committee underlined the need to enhance capital expenditure for track modernization, station modernization, and train service improvement, and it recommended encouraging private sector participation to cater to the growing demand for infrastructure development. In addition, the Committee urged the Railway Ministry to explore the assistance of external agencies to enhance revenue generation, especially by optimizing advertising space and land holding.
Accelerating Land Acquisition for Infrastructure Projects
Land acquisition is still one of the key impediments to completing railway infrastructure projects in time. The Committee recommended that the Ministry revise and simplify the land acquisition process. It has argued that more regular interaction with the state governments would remove many of the land acquisition impediments. This will further speed up the implementation of key infrastructure projects like ROBs and RUBs, which have been delayed by years in the recent past.
Key Initiatives and Future Directions
Under the PM Gati Shakti Mission, the Indian Railways has identified many critical corridors that focus on energy, minerals, cement, port connectivity, and high-traffic density routes. The Committee appreciated the commitment of the Ministry to the economic railway corridors and encouraged the government to focus attention on them. A clear road map with phases and timelines will ensure that these priority projects get completed and are executed well within time.
The committee also noted the slow coach production and recommended urgent steps to increase the production capacity. This will help increase new coaches production, thereby keeping pace with increasing passenger needs and making the railways abreast of growing passengers.
Private Sector Participation in Station Redevelopment
One of the major discussions areas included ongoing initiatives for redevelopment of stations. The Committee recommended exploring private sector participation to minimize reliance on government funds and internal resources in the development of stations. This not only accelerates the process but also provides innovative solutions for changing the face of railway stations and offering a more satisfactory passenger experience.
Conclusion
The recommendations outlined by the Standing Committee on Railways reflect the urgency with which the Ministry must address its key challenges in the Indian Railways network. Accelerated Kavach deployment; improved catering services; infrastructure modernization-all are urgently needed to enhance safety and efficiency and overall passenger satisfaction. Increased private sector involvement and smarter acquisition of lands are calls from the Committee for the growth and modernization of Indian Railways to ensure safe and convenient journey by trains for millions of people in this country.
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