New Delhi, Jul 8 (KNN)  Seeking a course correction, the first Railway Budget of the Narendra Modi Government shuns populism and comes out with a clear roadmap of repairing finances of the Indian Railways, improving basic passenger amenities and following a commercial approach to involve the private sector and FDI besides tapping opportunities into new areas like growing e-commerce sector.

As the passenger and freight fares were already raised, Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda in the Budget for 2014-15 only justified the move and expectedly levying no new loads.  However, a lot was promised in terms of completion of existing projects and providing basic passenger facilities like catering, platform tickets, cleanliness, IT-driven solutions like upgradation of e-ticketing.  Smartly enough, excepting operations the public-private-partnership model will be followed in all these services throwing open huge opportunities for investors- both big and small.   

The Budget presented to Parliament estimates gross revenue receipts of Rs 1.64 lakh crore while expenses have been pegged at Rs 1.49 lakh crore.

Boost for IT initiatives:   Revamping Railway Reservation System into Next Generation e-Ticketing will be taken up with provision of platform tickets and unreserved tickets also over internet.  The Railway has proposed real-time tracking of trains and rolling stocks, mobile based Wakeup Call System for passengers, mobile based destination arrival alert and Wi-fi Services in A-1 and A category stations and in select trains.  Indian Railways has also planned paperless offices in 5 years.

Safety:  It has proposed introduction of advance technology for rail-flaw detection to check causes of accidents, a significant amount has been kept for road-over and road-under bridges and a pilot project will be launched on automatic door closing in mainline and sub-urban coaches.  In order to make women safer while travelling, the Railway will recruit 4000 women constables.  Coaches for ladies will be escorted. 

University:   In order to make Railway management more efficient, Budget has proposed setting up of Railway University for training in both technical and non-technical subjects besides establishing Innovations and Incubation Centre to harness the ideas generated from staff. 

Bullet trains:  In a bid to modernise Indian Railway network, Bullet trains have been proposed on Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector besides increasing speed of trains to 160-200 kmph in select 9 sectors.  The Railway has also planned setting up of Diamond Quadrilateral Network of High Speed Rail connecting major metros and growth centres of the country.   Identified stations will be developed to international standards with modern facilities on lines of newly developed airports through PPP mode.  Railway has also proposed harnessing solar energy by utilizing roof top spaces of stations, railway buildings and land.

Freight:  To augment resources of Railways, the Budget has proposed schemes to facilitate procurement of parcel vans and rakes by private parties, special milk tanker trains, increased movement of fruits and vegetables in partnership with Warehousing Corporation and setting up Private Freight Terminals on PPP model.

E-procurement:   The Railway has proposed to bring in more transparency in administration and execution of projects.  The status of ongoing projects will be available online, E-procurement will be made compulsory for procurement of higher amount and online registration of demands for wagons will be introduced within next two months.

Tourism circuits:  Provision has been made for 28 surveys for new lines and doubling or gauge conversion of lines.  Higher funds have been proposed for ongoing projects in Northeast and remote areas. Special packaged trains on identified pilgrim circuits, two tourist trains and a special train featuring life and work of Swami Vivekananda has been proposed in the Budget.  (KNN/PC)