The plan for development of railways that will take into account the physical and financial needs of the organisation uptil 2030 was being prepared in consultation with different stake holders including Members of Parliament, he said while winding up a two-day debate on dividend policy of the railways in Lok Sabha.
The Minister said he was also in touch with noted economist Rakesh Mohan, who headed a committee on National Transport Development Policy on the integrated transport policy of which railways was an important component. The committee had submitted its report to the government in February 2014.
Elaborating on his plans, the Minister said "we are developing a plan for railways for 2030...In close consultation with stakeholders" and would also seek inputs from MPs as well.
The broad focus, he added, would be on decentralisation, better deployment of human resources and development of three dedicated freight corridors.
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The railways, Prabhu said, was looking at forming joint ventures with state governments for expanding the rail network and improving services.
World Bank and the several financial institutions have been roped in to develop business plans, he said, adding the proposal has evoked goods response from several states including Kerala and West Bengal.
treasure," Prabhu said it has been in "deep trouble for long and we have to make all efforts to pull it out. That is the challenge... Railways must be developed to its full potential."
The Railway Minister also underlined the need for having a relook at the dividend policy for the organisation which discharges social obligations to the tune of Rs 34,000 crore.
He said Indian railways get miniscule subsidy as compared to the railways of developed countries like Germany, France, Italy and Austria.
"We are asking for a subsidy of 30 paise per km," the minister said, adding that it comes in the form of Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).
The railways, Prabhu further said, has been working to increase freight traffic and encourage passengers to travel by rail by improving services.
As regards the announcemnts made in the Budget, he said those have been either implemented fully or were at the advance stage of implementation. "We are working on transformative approach for railways."
The railways, he added, has started the Complaint Redressal Mechanism and is "looking at restructuing of various arms of the railways in significant way."
dividends by the Indian Rilways.
Arvind Sawant (SS) said on one side, people are talking about running bullet trains and on the other hand trains are getting derailed.
"There is no need for wi-fi or bullet trains. First let the trains run on time. The convention committee is talking about dividend, but the services are not good...It is an social institute", he said.
Supporting the resolution, P Karunakaran (CPM) said the public character of the Indian railways should be maintained as it has social obligations. There should be some provision for the sector in the Budget also, he added.
Dushyant Chautala (INLD) said there is a need to improve railway infrastructure. Instead of paying dividend, that sum can be used for improving the technology, upgrading stations and modernisation of railway, he said.
Rajeev Satav (Cong) wondered whether the government has capacity of repay huge debt of 9 lakh crore that it is proposing to raise from the market.
He said there is no progress in the railways and it is only visible on paper or social media.
Questioning the rationale of the fare hike, Dharmendra Yadav (SP) said it is not fair to give dividend to government at the cost of passengers.
Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) said Railway Ministry is talking of running bullet train when existing trains do not have basic facilities and infrastructure is poor.