Industry has been expecting rationalization of freight policy: Assocham
Updated: Feb 12, 2014 03:41:52pm
New Delhi, Feb 12 (KNN) The industry has been expecting rationalisation of railway freight policy apart from introducing capacities and improving the efficiency of rolling stock, industry body Assocham said, reacting to the Interim Rail budget 2014-15.
Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge today kept passenger fares and freight rates unchanged, introduced 72 new trains and announced connectivity to two more north-eastern states in the interim budget.
The freight loading target has been announced at 1,101 million tonne versus 1,052 million tonne YoY. Even as Kharge kept passenger fares unchanged, he announced that seventeen new premium trains and 38 express trains will be introduced.
In the current financial year, earnings from freight and passenger services are estimated at Rs 1,31,500 crore.
ASSOCHAM appreciated the Railway Minister for making a serious and detailed assessment of the present state of finances of Indian Railways and said, “Industry has been expecting the rationalisation of railway freight policy apart from introducing capacities and improving the efficiency of rolling stock. The Annual Budget yet again gives another opportunity to reassess the achievements towards these goals.
“Increased private participation, as rightly noticed by the Government, seems to be the way of future development. The increased efforts towards unlocking the value of railway assets would go a long way in achieving this objective,” the industry body added.
“Anticipating a healthier growth of economy, the freight traffic target is proposed at 1,101 million tonnes, an increment of 49.7 million tonnes over the current year’s revised target of about 1,052 million tonnes,” the budget document said.
In his first Railway Budget, Kharge said that Railways influence all aspects of life adding that, "Railways provide low cost connectivity to all parts of India. Railways contribution is unprecedented."
"It is time that we take note of the investment needs. Railways are an engine of growth," Kharge said. "This pan-Indian organisation needs to be nurtured," he added. (KNN/SD)
Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge today kept passenger fares and freight rates unchanged, introduced 72 new trains and announced connectivity to two more north-eastern states in the interim budget.
The freight loading target has been announced at 1,101 million tonne versus 1,052 million tonne YoY. Even as Kharge kept passenger fares unchanged, he announced that seventeen new premium trains and 38 express trains will be introduced.
In the current financial year, earnings from freight and passenger services are estimated at Rs 1,31,500 crore.
ASSOCHAM appreciated the Railway Minister for making a serious and detailed assessment of the present state of finances of Indian Railways and said, “Industry has been expecting the rationalisation of railway freight policy apart from introducing capacities and improving the efficiency of rolling stock. The Annual Budget yet again gives another opportunity to reassess the achievements towards these goals.
“Increased private participation, as rightly noticed by the Government, seems to be the way of future development. The increased efforts towards unlocking the value of railway assets would go a long way in achieving this objective,” the industry body added.
“Anticipating a healthier growth of economy, the freight traffic target is proposed at 1,101 million tonnes, an increment of 49.7 million tonnes over the current year’s revised target of about 1,052 million tonnes,” the budget document said.
In his first Railway Budget, Kharge said that Railways influence all aspects of life adding that, "Railways provide low cost connectivity to all parts of India. Railways contribution is unprecedented."
"It is time that we take note of the investment needs. Railways are an engine of growth," Kharge said. "This pan-Indian organisation needs to be nurtured," he added. (KNN/SD)
Loading...
