Railway Budget 2014: Promise of Service over Popularistic gimmicks

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Sadananda Gowda's rail budget 2014 seems aiming to focus on modernization and refurbishment of railways, the cardinal designs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's docket on infrastructure development. Presenting his maiden budget the railway minister said that they are prioritizing time lines to finish pending projects. Government today said 340 railway projects, including launch of new rail lines, were pending for want of funds that nearly amounts to about 5 lakh crore, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Railways' finance being in dire straits the railways is left with negligible resources for infrastructure upgradation. The railways' operating ratio, a measure of expenses as a percentage of revenue, has declined from 76 per cent in FY08 to an estimated 90.8 per cent in FY14. Last month's fare hike, the steepest in the last 15 years, will add around Rs. 10,000 crore to railway's revenues. But will that be enough to plug the losses the government incurs on passenger fares?
The Rail Budget also delineated plans for incremental amelioration of the present-day passenger amenities. The declaration of a 54% higher allocation which will expedite the ongoing work and provide the first-ever rail connectivity to the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya was pleasing. Mr. Gowda also gladdened hearts with a number of service related assurances:-

  • CCTV to monitor cleanliness activities.
  • Introduction of mechanized laundry.
  • 4,000 women constables to be recruited to ensure safety of women.
  • Ultrasonic system to detect problem in track.
And several other similar service related plans. Mr Gowda took up a daring venture of projecting plans to improve rail services, which impact the lives of 2.3 crore passengers every day. Hope of better service in future by the railway department is being kindled. Now it is to be seen how this hope will be fulfilled or will it remain stocked up with the stack of other unsated promises?

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