by NR INDRAN / INT
Mumbai : Indian Merchants’Chamber has welcomed the Railway Budget’s increased accent on adoption of the PPP model for implementing the numerous new projects. Though hard on passengers, the increase in passenger fares, ranging between two paise and 30paise per km, announced by the Railway Minister, Mr. Dinesh Trivedi, is inevitable, if the financial crisis of Railways is to be lessened.
In a public statement issued in the wake of the introduction of the Railway Budget in Parliament, Ms Bhavna Doshi, IMC President, said that. “At the same time, the Railway Minister could have focused on increased operational efficiency through cost reduction due to switchover to computerisation and such other technological advances in the past few years”.
She also referred to the recent hike in freight rates and said that the measure had considerably increased the costs of transport of industrial and consumer goods, contributing to the inflationary trend in the country. “Appointment of a Tariff Regulatory Authority by the Minister to look into the possible hikes in fare and freight in future is of little comfort to the common man,” she said.
Ms Doshi however hailed the Railway Minister’s accent on ensuring safety of railway passengers and property. “Also, setting up of the Indian Railways Stations Development Corporation to redevelop stations and maintain them on pattern of airports, the Logistics Corporation for providing logistics solutions for rail users, will enhance efficiency and user experience,” she said.
Time-bound implementation of projects need to been sured for modernization plans of Railways to bring about benefits, she added.
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