Beating the economic slowdown with increased freight loading and passenger earnings while keeping the operating ratio in control would be the key challenges before the new railway minister.
Enhancing the capacity of rolling stock including gauge conversion, doubling and laying new lines, acquisition of new coaches and wagons are some of the priorities the new ministry is expected to pursue.
"Work on the Dedicated Freight Corridor project and ensuring its funding from JBIC, World Bank and ADB will have to be taken up in right earnest," said a senior official in the Railway Board.
Keeping the terror threat perception in mind, the upgradation of security system at railway stations in major cities will be a focus area for the new government. Railways have often drawn flak from passengers for the low quality food being served and the unhygenic conditions prevailing in trains and platforms.
"Some drastic measures need to be taken to improve passenger amenities like food quality and cleanliness in trains," said the official. The operating ratio is projected at 88 per cent and the ministry has to maintain it, said the official.
In the last five years the Railways have stepped up the annual growth rate of freight loading from an average of 3 per cent during the decade of 90s to an average of 8 per cent now.
The objective is to increase the transport capacity of the railways and to reduce the unit cost of operations, said the official. Railways carried 833 million tonnes of freight against the target of 850 MT in the last fiscal.
"Efforts are being made to carry at least 850 MT this fiscal despite the slowdown," said a senior Railway Ministry official. Railways have carried 794.21 million tonnes (MT) of freight during 2007-08, which increased to 833.03 MT in 2008-09.
Though there is a decline in number of accidents in comparison to previous years, there is a need for improvement of railway safety in and a steep reduction in mishaps. Construction of rail over bridge and rail under bridge at accident-prone level crossings and new safety measures to prevent accidents are to be taken up, said the official.
There is also a delay in Kashmir rail link project due to the realignment issue and the ministry has to expedite the ongoing construction work on the project.
The ministry also has to give a fresh look to the proposed world class stations in metro cities. Other issues such as commercial utilization of vacant land, budget hotels, logistic parks, agriculture outlets are to be taken up by the new ministry.
