Hey Prabhu! Rlys to speed up journey on PPP track

As people lap up all those passenger-friendly announcements, the march of Indian Railways from part privatisation to complete privatisation is a reality now.

The language of Suresh Prabhu was also modern after all : "Seeking help of the multilateral, bilateral agencies, scouting international agencies for rupee bonds for infrastructural development..." That indicates the direction being given. Well, if passengers seek flying experience on rails, they better be prepared for paying more

Same targets, but greater clarity

Suresh Prabhu stresses on overhaul and modernisation of infrastructure

• No big-ticket projects to cheer up any particular sector, State
• Vows to address poor quality of existing coaches and amenities for passengers
• To actively pursue PPPs with States, and “any business house”
• Privatisation of some of its units to be put on the track under PPP mode
• Assures to create around 9,000 jobs. But concerns remain over loss of jobs due to privatisation as well

SNAPSHOT OF RLYS
1,15,00 km Track that Indian Railways has laid over 65,808 km route

7,112 Railway stations across the country

1.376 mn Employees. Indian Railways is the seventh largest commer cial or utility employer

2,45,267 Number of freight wagons

66,392 Passenger coaches in operation

12,617 Passenger trains and 7,421freight trains run daily

When Suresh Prabhu took over as Railway Minister at Narendra Modi's instance, he had a clear road-map (call it a rail-map if you wish). The priorities he listed then were: Safety, Security, Quality upgradation, Modernisation including doubling and electrification and Revenue generation.

He was preparing himself for a long haul and cautioned the country against unnecessary optimism and over enthusiasm. It is said that he also explained to Modi that his approach would be pragmatist and not populist.

Thus, the first Railway Budget laid the foundation for a "Realistic Budget." The second one is no different now. It continues to harp on the same targets with greater clarity on the fund-raising plans of the Railways.

Passengers would be given several facilities like WiFi services, local cuisine, on board announcements, online ticket booking with cancellation facility, "Sahayak" facility, modern coaches and special trains for hire.

He nowhere mentions the additional cost that these impose on travellers. Well, if passengers seek flying experience on rails, they better be prepared for paying more, Prabhu seems to be saying.

People would be mistaken to presume that Suresh Prabhu's reforms are slow to pick up and impact our lives. His emphasis continues to remain the same as in the first budget of his. He wants to concentrate on the job on hand on the existing infrastructure first.

A complete overhaul of the entire structure in every aspect is what he is looking into, and, hence, his budget speech does not boast of any big ticket projects or announcements that would cheer up any State as of now.

Modernisation and quality improvement are set to take place in its own pace and with the help of players, both national and international. The second railway budget only speeds up the process of privatisation of the country's largest State-owned organisation comprising 1,15,000 km of track over a 65,808 km route with 7,112 railway stations.

Indian Railways is the world's seventh largest commercial or utility employer with over 1.376 million employees. As for rolling stock, Indian Railways holds over 2,45,267 freight wagons, 66,392 passenger coaches and 10,499 locomotives (43 steam, 5,633 diesel and 4,823 electric locomotives). It runs 12,617 passenger trains and 7,421 freight trains daily.

As of 31 March 2013, only 21,614 km (13,430 mi) (32.8%) of the total route length was electrified. Suresh Prabhu is more worried about the poor quality of the existing coaches and the facilities offered to the passengers of all categories, his colleagues reiterate. And the only way all these could be implemented is through PPPs.

This budget makes it clear t hat by next year 50 per cent of the rail track of the country would be covered by electrification and for production of modern locomotives, two more units to be established with Rs 40,000 crore in the country. This budget is also a boon to the most neglected North East part of the country with its proposals to speed up the works there.

In keeping with the changing needs of the passengers, the emphasis is on providing WiFi services in 100 more stations this year and extending the same to 400 stations in two years. There are several passenger-friendly moves in this budget including reserving 50 per cent berths to senior citizens.
It also looks more poor-friendly with announcements on unreserved trains etc. However, the fact that the Railways had already entered into an MoU with several State governments including those of AP and Telangana for PPP projects should show the direction that the Railways is heading. The three railway routes to be undertaken including that of Kharagpur-Vijayawada for tripling works will be under a PPP mode.

The rail and port connectivity will also be on a partnership basis. Fund raising will also involve "any business house," the Minister said. As people lap up all those passenger-friendly announcements, the march of Indian Railways from part privatisation to complete privatisation is a reality now. The language of Suresh Prabhu was also modern after all : "Seeking help of the multilateral, bilateral agencies, scouting international agencies for rupee bonds for infrastructural development..." That indicates the direction being given.

And how many times did he use PPP-module? A dozen or two dozen times? It was difficult to keep track anyway. The Minister also promised people that about 9,000 jobs would be added in the near future. How many thousands would lose jobs due to the PPPs, hey Prabhu?