Our railway minister has announced cuts in passenger fairs for the year 2008-09. Though the fare cuts are designed more to evoke a sense of feel-good rather than make any significant difference to your pocket. For example, a 2% difference in AC 3 tier coaches makes not more than a 40 rupees difference in a purchase a ticket costing 2,000. The 50% concession in tickets cost for women above 60 years and 30% for men above same age is a very good change though. Quite a lot of new trains are going to be added which is another good thing for us. Satellite TV and internet services which will be introduced soon are also a great thing for us, at least for people like me. I am listing all the new upcoming changes in the Indian Railways : -

~ More Wheels ~ 

10 more Garib Raths(Trains for poor people), 53 other new trains to be introduced

Many Rajdhani trains have been extended to cover more destinations; 16 trains have been made more frequent

Railways to study feasibility of elevated, fully air conditioned metro line from Mumbai Central to Virar(in the suburbs)

~ Cheap Travel ~ 

Second class fares for journeys over 50km to cost 5% less

Sleeper class fares down by 5%, AC 3 tier by 2%, AC 2 tier by 4% and AC 1 tier by 7%, in off peak season

5% cut in petrol, diesel frieght

~ Easy Ride ~

Satellite TV, Internet services to be introduced in trains

Ticket booking via cellphones

15000 automated ticket vending machines by 2009

Mult-level parking facilities to be built at 30 new locations

Lifts and escalators to be installed at 50 stations

~ Safe Journey ~

All level crossings to be manned

Cleaning of compartments toilets on Rajdhani, Shatabdi and super fast trains to be handed over to professional agencies

But are these changes enough to meet the world standards?

Absolutely not. No doubt that Lalu Prasad is one of the best railway minister we have ever had. He has credited to have turned around the Indian Railways. He has given an annual surplus of Rs.25000 crore. Isn’t that a lot? Yes it is. It is a huge profit that one could ever imagine. But his vision for the railways seems to be limited to restricting passenger fares. Massive increase in freight revenues to restricting by a robust economy and some smart management have helped him offset the burden of such passenger subsidies. Ideally, the cash surplus should have had revolutioned the working of the Railways. But that has not been the case actually. Indian Railways still have a long way to go to match the global standards. The infrastructure creaks, safety measures are not addressed. The biggest drawback of our railways is that they are too slow. Let us not forget the excessive load of cargo and commuters is mounted on tracks built over a hundred years ago. An overhaul of this infrastructure is long overdue.

Lalu Prasad has an advantage over all other railway ministers we’ve ever had, the surplus profits. Now we have the money to spend and ofcourse he gets the credit for the turn around no doubt. This money should be invested in infrastructure since the railways is the lifeline of Indians since there are not enough roads yet. We need faster trains, cleaner railway stations. The rajhdhani and shatabdi trains are a clear indication that the railways can indeed provide clean and efficient services. If Rajhdhani can go fast, then why not all other trains? It is not like we cannot afford it. We have enough money to invest. Our super fast trains today run at an average speed of 50kmph which is a shame. Where trains in Europe do so at an average of 300kmph+. Ofcourse, nobody is asking to make it that speed right now, but atleast better? Bangalore to Kolkata, 1800kms journey is completed in 36 hours which just turns me away from traveling in our trains.

Lalu is justifiably proud that railways is in better financial health than many private companies. He should now address the quality of the services offered by his organisation. Indian Railways should not remain a symbol of old styled state capitalism and disregard travelers. It has to reflect the enterprise of the new India, which now must live up to the world standards.

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