Govt announces key decisions for transforming Indian Railways: Here’s what you need to know
Think about travelling in a train nowadays, yes it is certainly not the worse but the passenger comfort is still missing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken notice of that and development of railway infrastructure seems to be on the central government's priority list.
In line with PM Modi's 'vikasyatra' (development journey), the minister of Railways announced major decisions needed for the transformations in Indian Railways.
Announcing this Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that the ministry is committed to ensuring high standard of service speed and safety for Indian passengers but also ensuring contribution to nation development. All these transformations will increase the lifeline of Indian Railways.
The ministry has taken several key decisions which includes passenger safety, modernisation, energy efficiency, upgrading of upgrading of heal and education.facilities and so on.
Here are the major decisions taken by Indian Railways
Highest priority to passenger safety
●
Overriding
and
perceptible
priority
to
safety
●
Priority
to
track
renewal
over
new
lines/gauge
conversion/
in
allotment
of
rails
●
Tremendous
stress
on
field
inspections
by
officers
●
Overriding
priority
for
granting
maintenance
blocks
●
Eliminating
remaining
5,000
unmanned
level
crossings
in
a
time-bound
manner
●
Shift
to
LHB
coaches
from
ICF
coaches
by
next
year
●
Provision
of
CCTV
cameras
in
coaches
and
stations
for
enhanced
security
especially
benefitting
women
and
senior
citizens
●
Ramping
up
electronic
interlocking
of
signals
in
place
of
manual
interlocking
●
Revamping
the
existing
signalling
system
-
use
of
TPWS
(Train
Protection
&
Warning
System)and
MTRC
(Mobile
Train
Radio
Communication).
Also
considering
modern
signalling
systems
for
suburban
and
long
distance
trains
●
Using
technology
like
ultra
sonic
frequency
detection,
cameras
for
detecting
defects
etc.
●
All
RPF
staff
and
TTEs
to
be
in
proper
uniform
while
on
duty
to
bring
in
transparency
●
RPF
staff
will
not
check
tickets,
which
is
the
function
of
TTEs.
They
shall
however
assist
ticket
checking
squads.
Transforming through technology
●
Stress
on
extensive
use
of
mobile
apps
for
monitoring
and
passenger
services
●
All
stations
and
trains
to
have
high
speed
wi-fi
connectivity
●
Proposed
to
increase
speed
of
around
700
trains
with
effect
from
1st
November
2017.
48
trains
are
being
converted
from
Mail
express
to
the
Superfast
category
●
Expediting
the
project
for
GPS
based
real
time
monitoring
of
train
movement
●
Expediting
satellite
based
mapping
of
all
Railway
assets
through
ISRO
Energy efficiency
●
Completion
of
electrification
by
the
next
4-5
years.
This
will
lead
to
savings
in
energy
costs
of
over
Rs.
10,000
cr
while
reducing
pollution
and
dependence
on
imported
diesel
●
100%
LED
lighting
and
energy
efficient
appliances
like
fans,
ACs
etc.
to
be
introduced
in
in
trains,
stations,
office
buildings
and
residential
colonies
in
a
time
bound
manner
Faster
Redevelopment
of
stations
●
About
20
stations
will
be
modernised
in
an
expedited
manner
with
superior
infrastructure
and
passenger
facilities
including
hotels,
eateries,
shopping,
disabled
friendly,
multimodal
transport
hub,
security
etc.
by
December
2018
●
Identifying
additional
stations
and
trying
to
create
a
self-financing
business
model
like
reassessing
tenure
of
contract,
access
control
and
freedom
to
sublease
etc.
Railway Stations as Multi-utility centres
●
Many
stations
that
receive
very
few
trains
in
a
day
are
proposed
to
be
used
as
Multi-utility
centres
for
activities
like
yoga
centres,
skilling,
educational
purposes
etc.
Upgrading
health
and
education
facilities
●
In
addition,
schools
and
hospitals
operated
by
Indian
Railways
will
be
improved
with
infrastructure
facilities,
which
will
benefit
not
only
railway
employees
but
also
other
people
Human resources
●
Tremendous
stress
is
being
laid
on
welfare
of
human
resources
●
Grievance
Redressal
Camps
are
being
organised
regularly.
Grievance
Redressal
Cells
are
being
set
up
in
every
Zonal/divisional
headquarters
for
hearing
employee
complaints
●
Extensive
delegation
of
powers
is
being
done
●
Process
reforms
to
improve
the
efficiency
of
the
system
is
being
taken
up
in
an
aggressive
manner
●
Reduction
in
number
of
organisational
layers
is
being
analysed
●
Posting
of
brilliant
and
enthusiastic
officers
as
Station
Directors
at
75
A1
Class
Stations
to
bring
dynamism
in
operations
●
Posting
additional
ADRMs
to
strengthen
divisional
work
by
reallocation
from
headquarters
Focus on welfare of field staff
●
Improving
overall
working
conditions
of
Group
D
category
staff.
For
example,
gang-men,
who
are
responsible
to
ensuring
track
safety,
and
who
have
to
walk
around
15-16
kms
on
an
average
in
a
particular
day
will
be
provided
with
comfortable
uniforms
and
better
quality
shoes.
Their
living
quarters
(Gang
huts)
too
will
be
improved
●
Running
rooms
of
loco
drivers
are
being
air
conditioned
Enhancing
Railway
Revenue
through
monetisation
of
assets
●
Monetisation
of
railway
assets
will
improve
finances
and
the
operating
ratio,
freeing
up
resources
for
critical
railway
projects.
This
will
be
done
by
making
land
monetisation
attractive
by
changing
various
rules
and
regulations
These improvements will help the lifeline of our nation to flourish as well as contribute more to our economic and social development. The transformation of the Indian Railways is well under way to ensure it is not just the compulsion of the people but the choice of the people.
OneIndia News