PM urges Lalu to put safety first

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed the railways to work on a report on modernisation and safety, increase commercial activities and focus on commercial utilisation of surplus land available with it.

Singh, who met Railway Minister Lalu Prasad yesterday, asked him to put up a modernisation paper to the Planning Commission on a priority basis.

The railways has also been asked to focus on raising the level of commercial activities, especially in case of Railtel.

Commercial utilisation of land available with the railways and faster implementation of the project on development of eco-friendly coaches were also identified as focus areas.

A dedicated line connecting the four metros and twelve major ports was also on the list of focus areas, ministry officials said. The new Sampark Krantis, which were announced in the interim Railway Budget for 2004-05, are to be launched soon.

However, given the lack of capacity on the existing tracks, there was a need for a parallel network focussed on freight traffic, the officials added.

The modernisation plan, work on which is currently underway, is expected to be finalised in a months' time.

The railway ministry has asked all directorates to provide inputs on areas they think are eligible for inclusion in the modernisation plan. The plan is to be implemented between 2005 and 2010.

Specific works to be taken up under the plan and sources of funding are to be finalised by the end of the current fiscal.

While modernisation was in-built in infrastructure expansion, replacements, new acquisitions and other operation and maintenance facilities, the idea was to develop a comprehensive plan covering all aspects of the railways, determine the quantum of funds required and to identify the sources of funding, they said.