In what could result in an end of government monopoly over the Railways, the Economic Survey today suggested private sector participation in passenger trains and rail services for tourist destinations in the country.
"Private entry into passenger train/railway services should be allowed to and from all tourist destinations," the survey recommended.
About a dozen tourist routes could be identified and a single license issued to private companies to provide passenger services on any or all these routes, it suggested.
The survey also shows that although Indian Railways recorded higher growth in passenger traffic last fiscal than in the previous one, growth in revenue earning freight traffic in 2008-2009 fell to almost half as compared to the previous financial year.
The Railways registered mere 4.9 per cent growth in revenue earning freight traffic during the last fiscal, down from the almost double the rate of 9 per cent in the 2007-08 fiscal.
It carried 832.1 million tonnes of revenue earning freight during the last fiscal, according to the Survey.
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The Railways carried 697.1 crore passengers in 2008-09, recording a growth of 6.9 per cent over the previous year. It carried 652.4 crore passengers in 2007-08, a growth of 5 per cent over 2006-07.
Realising the need for dedicated freight corridors, the Railways have conducted feasibility studies for various streches including Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Kolkata, Kharagpur-Vijaywada and Chennai-Goa.
As for improving passenger amenities, 325 stations have been upgraded out of the 594 identified under for the purpose under the Model Station Scheme.
"Under the plan to identify five stations in each division to give a facelift on a priority basis under the Touch and Feel Scheme, 637 stations have been identified and 395 stations have been completed," the survey said.
In order to accomodate longer trains carrying 24-26 coaches, platforms at more than 502 stations has also been completd in the last three years.
The number of accidents per million train kilometre, an index of rail safety, came down from 0.55 in 2001-02 to 0.20 in 2008-09. The number of train accidents reduced to 177 in 2008-09 from 194 in 2007-08.
Computerised unreserved ticketing system has been made available at 2079 locations with about 5320 counters. Automatic ticket vending machines have been installed at 375 locations.