OREANDA-NEWS. July 14, 2011. On his first visit to Rail Bhawan today after being sworn in as Union Railway Minister on 12th July 2011, Shri Dinesh Trivedi has held discussions with his colleague Minister of State for Railway Shri Bharatsinh Solanki and the Railway Board. Later, he interacted with the media persons and read out the following statement which outlined the focus and priorities set by him for the growth of the Indian Railways;-

“Indian Railways is one of the best organizations in the World, a lifeline of the country, which has done the Nation proud.  Considering the constraints under which it has to work, it has rendered phenomenal service to the nation, which is only possible because of the dedication of all the workers and the management.

There are basically three areas of focus: Organization, Operation and Modernization and broadly our emphasis would be on the following areas:-

1.      Implementation of Mamata Banerjee’s Vision 2020.

2.      To improve productivity and efficiency.  To respond to the needs of the 21st century with associated tools and technologies, to help our workers and unions achieve their best.  This will also include Process Reforms.

3.      Passenger – our ultimate customer.  Their security, safety, service, comfort and flexibility are of utmost importance. 

4.      Substantial expansion of the Railways in handling of passengers and freight, to add and to grow in the Indian economy and respond to the needs of our business and service sector.

5.      Land use through preparing national database of railway owned land.  Management of the same and potential to create new community assets through PPP.

6.      Modernize Railway stations through PPP.  To create community space not only for transport but also for education, health, business and entertainment.  Provide Wi-fi in Railway stations and trains.  Revive Rail-Tel.

7.      Modernize Railway factories to increase capacity.  Emphasize indigenous design and development, local production to create new jobs.

8.      Real-time Track management;

a.      Implementation of modern e-signalling systems for train protection, improving track capacity and efficiency.

b.      Advanced Anti Collision Devices on trains for averting both head on collisions as well as accidents caused due to track obstruction.

c.       Implementation of GPS systems for real tracking of trains.  Advanced traffic analysis for efficient logistics of passenger and freight trains.

d.      Manning/Over-bridge for all the unmanned level crossings.

9.      Mobile ticketing and associated mobile commerce and other services for passengers and vendors.  Railway Debit Cards to be made available at stations via digital kiosks for the purpose of purchasing items from vendors.  Can be used to purchase tickets as well.

10.  Timely completion of East West Dedicated Freight Corridor.

11.  Explore new projects, such as high speed rail, to meet growing needs of the Indian Transport sector.  Linking with other transport hubs to create seamless integrated connectivity.

Priority would be given to the timely completion of the projects which have already been initiated and announced in the previous Railway Budgets.”