Minister for Railways has presented the Railway Budget for 2014-15 to the Parliament. As usual, Railway Budget is very comprehensive exercise embodying the achievements made, projects in the pipeline and proposals for future. On June 17 last, Railway Minister had announced hike in rail fare and freight, and in view of that, no further increment in fares/freight was proposed in the budget. An overall view of the budget reflects the policy of the government to give railways great importance in the development process of the country. It is not only the income that is generated by rail transport, it is more a philosophy of how and to what extent rail transport and connectivity will carry forward this vast country and its huge population on the road to prosperity. The budget, indeed, gives an insight into what the vision of the government is. What should immediately interest an ordinary citizen of India is the vision that is being proposed and presented.
India has perhaps the largest railway network in the world. But the standard of the rail service and security is not up to the mark. That is why the Railways Minister has coined the mantra of safety, security and service aspect as of high priority. One thing is noteworthy. The Railways Minister would like to introduce latest technology and mechanical devices to lift the railways to a higher level in all aspects. Evidently for whatever improvement and upgrading of services and facilities are contemplated for implementation, the ultimate question is of resources. At the moment the country is faced with financial crunch with its obvious impact on expansion and development of railway services. The proposal is for introducing Foreign Direct Investment, Public-Private Partnership and Public Sector Surplus as funding sources to ensure that mega projects like high speed trains or bullet trains or laying new and essential railway tracks and improving customer services etc. are undertaken with earnestness. The significant point in the current budget is that of some vital modernizing schemes under the consideration of the ministry which would give a new shape to the Indian Railways. Modernizing all railway stations and providing them with electronic gadgets like escalators, lifts, overhead bridges, computer ticketing including reservation and cancellation and platform tickets, streamlining of connectivity of railway stations with main streets etc., in short, bringing railway stations to the level of airports, will be a revolution in rail traffic in our country. Likewise the introduction of high speed trains with increased speed from 160 kms to 200 kms per hour and providing the track needed is also under consideration. The concept of bullet trains first introduced in Japan is attracting the Railway Ministry and according to the estimates presented in the budget, 6 lakh crore rupees will be the total expenditure of introducing the bullet trains on selected routes. As a gift to the Prime Minister, the Railways Minister has announce introduction of a bullet train from Mumbai to Ahmadabad at a cost of 60,000 crore rupees.
We are happy to know that due attention has been paid to the security of female passengers and two important steps are being taken in this regard. One is providing self closing and locking system for the doors of the coaches and second is inducting 4000 female security personnel in the Railway Police organization. This will certainly increase security of rail passengers. Apart from this, measures are being devised to ensure on time departure and arrival of railways. This will be monitored through electronic devices.
In a sense the budget links Indian railways to the development of India as a powerful nation inching towards modernization and at the same time taking steps to increase the standard of life. The Prime Minster has rightly said that railways have to join the nation in its journey to development. This is a budget of its own class and it gives the feel of possibilities of great opportunities of development.
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