Indian Railways launch website for National Rail Plan

The railways today launched a website seeking inputs from all stakeholders to prepare the National Rail Plan (NRP) which will be ready by the middle of next year.

"Railways has prepared vision documents but never National Rail Plan. Railways being the government organisation is always subject to lot of pull and pressure. There should be a concrete plan what we should do in the next 10/15 years," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said after launching the website here.

Differentiating the NRP from the vision, he said "Railways had prepared vision documents earlier also but this is different from vision. Vision cannot be realised in the absence of vision."

Seeking suggestions from all stakeholders, he asked all concerned including Chief Ministers, different ministries, business chambers to provide inputs for finalising the plan.

NRP envisages to identify and development of new corridors.

Expressing concern over railways falling share in loadings, Prabhu said there is a requirement for faster movement of trains, easy movement of passengers and freight and long term sustainable transport system.

On safety aspect, he said "railways have safety plans but this will include all plans together" and added Railways do not want to beat other modes of transport by competing but want to work by complementing.

Railways will be including all the ideas received during recently held Rail Vikas Shivir in the National Rail Plan.