NATIONAL RAIL VIKAS
YOJANA TO STRENGTHEN RAILWAYS
SIXTEEN
JAN SHATABDI TRAINS INTRODUCED
YEAR-END REVIEW 2002
Launching of the
National Rail Vikas Yojana by the Prime Minister, introduction
of sixteen Jan Shatabdi trains, territorial re-
adjustment of IR to create seven new zones for improvement in
efficiency, speedy implementation of the work under Special Railway
Safety Fund, launching of the Unreserved Ticketing System, delegation
of more powers to General Managers of Zonal Railways, introduction
of internet booking and launching of Operation Cleanliness drive
were some of the highlights of the new initiatives taken by the
Ministry of Railways during this year.
NATIONAL RAIL
VIKAS YOJANA
The recently launched
National Rail Vikas Yojana is a non-budgetary initiative for removing
capacity bottlenecks in the critical sections of Indian railway
network with an investment of Rs.15,000 crore over the next five
years. Strengthening of the Golden Quadrilateral, construction
of four mega bridges, increasing rail connectivity to ports and
developing multi-modal corridors to the hinterland are the works
to be undertaken under this Yojana. Another aspect of this Yojana
is the accelerated completion of important projects nearing completion.
A new company named Rail Vikas Nigam is being formed to implement
the Yojana within a period of five years
Golden Quadrilateral,
the high density rail network connecting four metro cities of
Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai carries 65% of the freight
traffic and 55% of the passenger traffic. The saturated sections
of these rail routes will be further strengthened by doubling
of the remaining single line patches, laying of multiple lines
wherever required; setting up of terminal/junction stations; reduction
in speed differential by raising the speed of freight trains to
100 KMPH are the highlights of the scheme. The construction of
four mega bridges include two bridges over river Ganga, one over
Brahamputra and another over river Kosi. Multileteral part funding
for this Yojana has been arranged from the Asian Development Bank
and an amount of $313.6 million has already been approved.
NEW TRENDS IN
PASSENGER AMENITIES
Use of Information
Technology has brought about revolutionary changes in train operations
especially the passenger amenities segment of Indian Railways.
At present nearly 96% of the total passenger reservation is done
through computerized reservation facilities available at 758 locations
spread across the country. Computerised Reservation related inquiries
about availability of accommodation, Passenger status, train schedule,
train between pair of stations etc. have been web enabled. The
recently launched Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) will help
nearly 12 million unreserved passengers served by railways every
day. This pilot project, which was announced in this year’s Budget,
now available in Delhi area, will be extended to other parts of
the country in due course. The on-line ticketing facilities through
Internet launched by the Indian Railways’ Catering and Tourism
Corporation is at present available in all the Metro and select
cities.
INTRODUCTION OF JAN SHATABDI
TRAINS
Since IR has completed
the 150th year of its operation, the current year has
been declared as passenger Amenities Year. Sixteen Jan Shatabdi
trains which are almost at par with the prestigious Shatabdi
trains as far as speed and comfort level are concerned and have
been launched by IR this year. These trains offer travel at the
most affordable price connecting important towns, cities and metros.
FOCUS ON SAFETY
AND SECURITY
Railways serve more
than 13 million passengers everyday running 8000 passenger trains
across the length and breadth of this vast sub-continent. A number
of in-house reforms including special safety drive have been initiated
to ensure maximum safety to the travelling public. The process
of replacing distressed bridges, old tracks, signaling system
and other safety enhancement devices using funds from the Rs.17000
crore Special Railway Safety Fund(SRSF) is in full swing. Extensive
field trial of the anti-collision device developed by Konkan Railway
Corporation has reached the final stage and in the near future
this innovative technology will be deployed on Indian Railways.
The Ministry of Railways has also constituted a high level committee
to review the diaster management system over Indian Railways and
give recommendations for strengthening and streamlining the same.
The recent introduction of user friendly drivers’ cabin in locomotives
will provide better comforts to train drivers thereby increasing
their efficiency.
In order to ensure
security of Rail Passengers , Railway Protection Force in coordination
with the Government Reserved Police (GRP) has implemented several
measures this year. Zonal railways have launched a number of Media
Campaigns to create awareness among the rail users on safe and
secure journey. Efforts are on to amend Railway Act and RPF Act
to give more powers to RPF personnel in ensuring security of travelling
public on trains and within railway premises. The number of women
constables has also been increased during this year.
TERRITORIAL READJUSTMENT
OF ZONES
To ensure greater
efficiency in administration, speedy implementation of on- going
projects and better customer care, Indian Railways have decided
to create seven new zones by territorial re-adjustment of existing
zones. Ministry of Railways has recently initiated steps to implement
the decisions of the Union Govt taken in 1996 and 1998 to create
new zones based on the recommendations of the Railway Reforms
Committee- 1981. The new zones, having limited financial burden
on Railways, will have thin and lean, efficient and modern administrative
set up. Two of the new zones have already started functioning.
MORE POWERS TO
GM
General Managers
of railway zones can now finalise contracts worth upto Rs.15 crores
of works and stores of sanctioned projects as against the
earlier limit of Rs.8 crores. They have also been given rate reducing
powers to quote station to station rates with a view to attract
and retain traffic on commercial considerations. Forty five out
of nearly 60 store items, which were hitherto being centrally
procured by the Railway Board, have been decentralized for procurement
by Zonal Railways.
OPERATION CLEANLINESS
The Indian Railway
have recently launched "Operation Cleanliness" to improve
sanitation and cleanliness at railway stations and in trains.
A multi-disciplinary Task Force has recently been formed which
has identified the problem areas and suggested certain remedial
measures. The action plan involves multi-pronged action by synergising
technology, education of users, upgradation of skills and provision
of better equipment. This will be a continuous process gradually
covering a large number of stations and trains.
ELECTRIFICATION
Indian railways have
further electrified 495 route kilometers spread across different
Zonal Railways during this calendar year. With this the total
number of electrified route length comes 16109 kilometers which
is 26 per cent of total route kilometers of Indian Railways and
this electrified route carries almost 60 per cent of freight and
48 per cent of passenger of Indian Railways.
LATEST TECHNOLOGY
This year Indian
Railways has produced its own state-of-art 4000 hp AC/AC Diesel
Locomotive. The first such loco was flagged off by the Minister
of Railways from Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi in April this
year. These locos are capable of hauling 4800 tonnes freight trains
at a speed of 100KMPH. These most modern locos having several
safety enhancing features and high fuel efficiency and can run
continuously upto 90 days in one stretch without any major maintenance.
MODEL STATIONS
So far 280 stations
of IR have been identified as Model Stations and the stepped up
amenities available in these stations include improvement in waiting
rooms, booking offices, retiring rooms and circulating area, provision
of National Train Enquiry System (NTES), Self-printed Ticketing
Machines(SPTM), conversion of stall into modular stalls and provision
of ‘Pay & Use’ toilets.
RAILWAY CATERING
& TOURISM CORPORATION
This year IRCTC has
set up two plants, one in Delhi and another one in Danapur, Bihar
for production of Railway’s own drinking water Railneer which
will be launched very soon. Setting up of food plazas in important
stations of Metros and big cities has been another noteworthy
achievement for IRCTC. These Food Plazas aimed at increasing passenger
amenities will have contemporary décor, air-conditioned
ambience and will be working round-the-clock to suit passenger
convenience. Competitive pricing for quality and hygienic food
will be the unique nature of these food plazas.
EXCELLENCE IN
SPORTS
This year sportspersons
belonging to Indian Railways presented sterling performance in
all the domestic and international sports events. Railway Sportspersons
have contributed considerably in ensuring India’s excellent performance
in the recent Commonwealth Games and the Asiad-2002. Ministry
of Railways has announced out-of-turn promotion and cash awards
to all the medal winners and some of them will be sent abroad
for better training to equip them for the next Olympics. In a
special function organized at the Rail Headquarters this year
all the Arjuna Award Winners have been honoured.
EXHIBITION ON
WHEELS
As part of the 150th
year of Indian Railways a special Exhibition on Wheels has been
flagged off by the Railway Minister from Delhi and by April next
year the train will return after touching almost all the important
stations spread across the country. This exhibition which depicts
the history and evolution of railways in India provides a unique
opportunity to the people to discover the strength and dynamism
of Railways.
