Railway Ministry revs up implementation of budget proposals

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 9:

In an unprecedented pace, the Railway ministry has set a unique record with implementation 39 proposals of the Railway Budget 2015 -16, ranging from improvement in passenger amenities system to infrastructure development, in just 36 days.

The entire machinery of Indian Railways was geared up to implement the budgetary proposals.

Under the implementation strategy, comprehensive action plans were formulated on all budget announcements. Railway minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and minister of state for Railways Manoj Sinha have been personally monitoring the implementation and undertaking periodical review.

The monitoring and periodical reviews are also being undertaken at the Railway Board level, zonal Railway level and Railway Division level.

To ensure effective and efficient online monitoring, the Railway ministry has developed a special web based software e-Samiksha to keep an eye on implementation.

The ministry is next only to PMO, External Affairs ministry, Road Transport and Highways ministry and HRD ministry to have this kind of online monitoring mechanism.

Mentioned hereunder is the list of proposals implemented by the Railway ministry:

— Creation of new department for housekeeping to address the issue of cleanliness in a more integrated and coordinated manner.
—Launching of disposable bags for garbage disposal as a pilot project in Mumbai-Amritsar Punjab mail.
—Manufacturing of new non-AC coaches having dustbins at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) from May 1.
—Engagement of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi for designing of bedroll etc.
— New mechanized laundries at Kochiveli, Malda town and Santragachhi to supply clean linen taking total of such laundries to 33. Besides, 29 more locations have been identified.
—  Operationalisation of Passenger Helpline 138 which will work as an interface for queries/complaints related to medical emergency, cleanliness, food and catering, coach maintenance, linen etc.
— Operationalisation of Security Helpline 182  to report any unsavoury incidents like crime against women, onboard unlawful activity, train accidents, medical attention required and fire etc.
— An application and a portal to redress railway related complaints for online tracking of complaints.
— Launching of ‘Operation 5 minutes” as pilot project on Chennai suburban railway where passengers can buy paperless unreserved tickets on their mobile.
— Instructions for differently-abled travellers to purchase concessional E-tickets after one time registration issued.
— E-ticketing portal in Hindi is ready for launch.

—Introduction of e-Catering to enable the passengers to place an order for a meal through a phone call or an SMS. The service is presently available in 134 pairs of trains.

—Operationalisation of online booking of retiring rooms.

—Identification of 73 pairs of trains for introducing hand-held terminals to TTEs. Supply is expected to be received by the end of May.

— Operationalisation of SMS alert for advance arrival of train at destination.
Centrally managed railway display network is ready for technology demonstration.

— Launching pilot project for providing surveillance cameras at ICF.

—On board entertainment on Kalka-Shatabdi Express which is now being extended to other trains.

—Instructions to provide mobile charging facilities in all new general class coaches. The facilities will be provided in 3000 existing coaches in the current fiscal..

— Increase in quota for lower berths for senior citizens from 2 to 4 per coach.

—Launching of e-Concierge services in 22 railway stations.

—Identification of five trains for augmentation of capacity from 24 to 26 coaches.
Instructions issued for TTEs to help senior citizens/pregnant women to get lower berths.

—Instructions for reserving middle bay for women and senior citizens.

—Inauguration of perishable cargo centre at Azadpur Mandi to help farmers and consumers in a big way. The ripening of fruits and cold storage facilities at this cargo centre will help the farmers get a good price and good market for their product.

—Instructions to liberalize the private freight terminal policy.

—Review of all pending recommendations by Kakodkar committee on safety by the Railway Board.

— Formation of Kayakalp Council led by eminent industrialist Ratan Tata to recommend innovative methods and processes for the improvement, betterment and transformation of the Indian Railways.

—Constitution of taskforce for drafting IT vision for Indian Railways.

—Constitution of a committee under Ajay Shankar for revamping of the PPP cell.

—Signing of a MoU between Railway ministry, Coal ministry and the Odisha government for creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to help expedite railway connectivity projects for coal transportation in Odisha.

— Signing of a MoU with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to provide highest ever funding of Rs 1.5 lakh crore for Railways. This move will ultimately help railways growth through augmentation of its financial resources.

— Approval for rail connectivity to Dighi Port through PPP.

—Instructions for organizing training of frontline staffs on soft skills.

—Negotiations for financing railway projects through World Bank commenced.

— Initiation of process for putting in place a regulator.

—Signing of a MoU for Railway Research Centre at Mumbai University.

— Signing of a MoU with National Institute of Designing (NID) for setting up of a Railway Design Centre in its campus at Ahmadabad. This will help improve customer’s happiness by way of better designed coaches and providing cost effective solutions to problems faced by passengers during train travel.

— Signing of a MoU between Railway ministry, Coal ministry and Jharkhand government of Jharkhand for creation of a SPV to help expedite railway connectivity projects for coal transportation in Jharkhand.