CREATION OF NEW ZONES WILL IMPROVE EFFICIENCY,
RAILWAYS REGAINING FINANCIAL
HEALTH : NITISH KUMAR
PARLIAMENTARY CONSULTATIVE
COMMITTEE OF RAILWAYS MEET
Indian Railways is slowly regaining its
financial health and operating ratio has improved from 98.8 to
96 per cent at present, said Railway Minister Shri Nitish Kumar
here today. Addressing the Consultative Committee of Members of
Parliament for the Ministry of Railways, Shri Nitish Kumar highlighted
some of the recent achievements indicating improvement of the
financial health of Railways. He informed the Members that the
performance of Railways during 2001-2002 has been quite encouraging
and the freight loading stood at 492.31 Million Tonnes crossing
the target of 489 MT(RE). Savings in Ordinary Working Expenses
are Rs. 1487 Crore compared to Budget Esimate. An amount of Rs.249
crore has been repaid with interest to the Capital Fund from General
Exchequer, he added.
Addressing the meeting on "State Governments
and Private Funding for Execution of Important Railway Projects"
Shri Nitish Kumar said that Ministry of Railways has finalised
new guidelines to attract private capital in accelerating building
up of fixed rail infrastructure. This is aimed to cover the existing
projects and also to include some green-field projects. Shri Nitish
Kumar further added that stepped up participation of State Governments
and Private Sector in funding projects will help speedy execution
of important Railway projects, which is very crucial for the all
round economic development.
When some members raised the issue of recently
created two new Railway Zones, the Railway Minister said that
the decision was in line with the Union Cabinet's approval in
1996 & 1998 for creation of new Zones . The Cabinet had also
asked the Ministry of Railways to finalise the territorial jurisdictions
of the new Zones. The Minister said the issue has been hanging
fire for quite some time and had figured in Parliament on a number
of occasions. The Railway Board, after due deliberations and observing
due procedures,decided about the territorial readjustments of
some railways to create these two new Railway Zones which were
notified as per the Railway Act. The Minister emphasised that
the decision taken in no way is state-centric. The New East Central
Railway Zone with Hazipur as Headquarters spreads to the States
of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. Similarly,
after reorganisation, the Eastern Railway will have its jurisdiction
in the States of West Bengal Bihar and Jharkhand. He said that
it is the duty and concern of Ministry of Railways to look after
the interests of all the Railway Zones working under it. Shri
Nitish Kumar said that Indian Railway belongs to the whole nation
and his Ministry is committed to the development of Railway infrastructure
all over the country. Referring to the creation of other proposed
five zones the Minister informed the Committee that the Railway
Board is seized of the matter and deliberating on the territorial
jurisdiction and other administrative matters pertaining to these
proposed zones.. The Minister also said that once all the proposed
zones will be created, eight out the nine existing zones will
be affected as the new Zones will be carved out by taking out
Divisional Headquarters from the existing zones. It is, therefore,
not fair to say that only Eastern Railway is being singled out
for the exercise of territorial readjustment. In fact , smaller
zones will ensure efficiency and focussed development of Railway
System, the Minister pointed out . The Railway Minister appealed
for not making it a emotional and political issue.
Expressing his happiness on signing of MOUs
with some State Governments, the Minister disclosed that the Governments
of Gujarat,Haryana ,Uttar Predesh and Delhi have shown interest
in participating in some railway projects in their respective
States. The MOUs already signed with the States of Maharashtra,
Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand for different railway projects are unique
since two third of the costs would be contributed by the respective
states. This would ensure speedy completion of the projects.
A Joint Venture named Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation
(MRVC) formed with the Government of Maharashtra. The quity of
25 crores shared in a ratio of 51:49 between Ministry of Railways
and Government of Maharashtra to execute the suburban rail projects
of Mumbai Urban Trains Project (MUTP). The total cost of the rail
components of MUTP has been estimated at Rs.5618 crores, out of
which the total cost of the Phase-I project is Rs.3125 crores.
The World Bank is expected to provide a loan of Rs.1613 crores,
the remaining project cost of Rs.1512 crores will be shared on
50:50 basis between Government of Maharashtra and Indian Railways
as counter part fund.
Indian Railways (IR) will levy surcharge
on Mumbai suburban commuters to realise Rs.2891 crores in 14 years
to repay the World Bank loan. Phase I is expected to be completed
by 2006-2007.
