This refers to edit “Railways must modernise” (March 6). The fact that coalition politics is just one factor that has brought the Indian Railways (IR) to its present financial mess must be acknowledged. If the government really desires to put the railways back on track, it must insist on the railways minister abandoning populist policies.
The following measures can be taken to revive the IR’s fortunes: (1) Make the Railway Board members and general managers of all Railway Zones accountable for their decisions, but give them the freedom to take decisions without interference from the ministry or the minister. (2) Take immediate steps to increase fares, particularly passenger fares, to ensure that the IR gets extra money to improve its finances. (3) Modernise the management with the help of management exerts. (4) Prepare and implement a five-year plan to convert the IR into Indian Railways Corporation (IRC), so that it can fund expansion plans and so on.
Narendra M Apte Pune
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