The rail budget introduced slew of measures for capacity expansion,
infrastructure development, improving passenger service and safety of
commuters.
Capacity expansion
While introducing around 58 new trains, it also proposes for
special tanker train for transportation of milks and temperature controlled
storage for transportation of agri products. While new trains will serve the
populist motives, milk and agri transportation can help controlling inflation.
Infrastructure development
Introduction of bullet trains and diamond quadrilateral have
long gestation period with huge investment. While diamond quadrilateral will
cost 9 lakh crore, each bullet train will cost around 60,000 crore. While these
plans require new infrastructure, high speed trains running at 150-200 kmph can
operate at existing network with slight modification. Connecting ports to main railway line can be
achieved in short term if private players can be roped in successfully. PPP
with domestic and international players is being envisaged. The investment through
PPP model has been very low after it was started by UPA. In the absence of any
concrete plan for bringing PPP, its success is still doubted by many and the
same was reflected by market resulting in crashing of Sensex.
Expediting work on three DFCs (Dedicated Freight Corridor) (
Tori-Shivpur-Kathautia, Jharsuguda-Barpalli-Sardega, Bhupeopur-Raigadh-Mand )
will improve coal availability to coal based power plants. The fact that 47 out
of 90 coal based power plants have critical level of fuel stock emphasizes the
importance of this project. Besides, it can also help reduce import of coal.
Passenger service
After effecting increased passenger fare before the budget,
the rail minister outlined services ranging from cleanliness in trains and station
to providing wi-fi and workstation in major trains and stations. The outsourcing
of cleanliness activity can help but people have to co-operate by not littering
train floors and station platforms. Workstation and wi-fi on trains may be
welcomed by business class especially by frequent travellers. The next generation e-ticketing enhanced the
capacity of e-booking to 7200 tickets/minutes from 2000 tickets/minutes and has
the ability to keep 1.2 lakh used logged in at any point of time. Also,
computerization of general tickets and platform tickets will help increase
revenue as people won’t have to stand in a queue to get tickets.
Safety
Initiating a security helpline, employing 4000 women RPF and
using ultrasonic flaw detecting system to detect rail and weld fracture are
some of the safety related proposals. Replacing unmanned crossings with over-bridges
or under bridges can definitely help railway reduce accidents as these are the
sites for frequent accidents.
In sum, this budget
promises better and modern passenger services and safety and it will be remembered
for introducing the idea of bullet train in India.
