Ludhiana Inc. wants rail budget to put them on high growth track

Passenger fares are likely not to be hiked. The fare of AC suburban service will be higher than regular local train.

Presenting the railway budget for 2016-17, Prabhu said the railways has proposed to develop freight corridors between Delhi-Chennai (north-south), Kharagpur-Mumbai (east-west) and Kharagpur-Vjayawada on the east coast. He also said that, Sarathi Seva was introduced in Konkan Railway to help the old and disabled passengers requiring assistance at stations. this service will be expanded at many more stations.

Two senior government officials said raising freight tariffs significantly was not on the cards, and that a steep rise in passenger fares in Thursday’s railway budget also was unlikely as fewer-than-expected travellers catch the train and an industrial slowdown crimps the growth of freight.

There could also be a modest tweak in freight rates, if not now but later in the year. The price of the trains would be marginally higher than the incumbent trains plying on the same route. It has reached Rs 30,000 crores in the outgoing financial year.

Some of the other issues that stakeholders expect Prabhu to address include introduction of more wagons development of physical infrastructure fine-tuning the public-private partnership model improvement of passenger amenities and making rail transportation competitive.

With slower and costly economic activity by road, businesses will shift from road to rail, further hitting the railway volumes.

Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said “resources of Indian Railways are constantly dwindling” as they are “not decided in the most optimum manner”. Introduction of dual mode engine to enable the train to run both on diesel and electricity is likely to be announced in the budget.

Aiming at zero-accident level, Prabhu will announce various measures using technology such as equipping gang men with safety device and solar operated automatic warning system at unmanned level crossings to strengthen safety on tracks to prevent train mishaps.

For the second consecutive year, Suresh Prabhu may not launch any new services. Expansion of e-catering to all stations, bar-coded ticketing and travel insurance for passengers are expected.