Unlimited budgets available for railway safety: Piyush Goyal

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday averred that the Indian Railways has no paucity of funds and unlimited budgets are available for safety related items.

"The Indian Railways absolutely has no shortage of funds. Unlimited budgets are available for safety related items," Goyal said, while addressing a press conference here.

On Air Condition travel in suburban section in Mumbai, the railway minister said the government has introduced one or two rakes, which are air-conditioned and will be gradually increased.

The railway minister added that the air conditioned Local train in Mumbai has been tested successfully and would be introduced from January 1, 2018.

"CCTVs will be installed in all the trains and stations in Mumbai for better security. For better supervision and coordination, ADRMs posts are increased in all Railway Divisions," he said.

Goyal also said Indian Railways has marked 3,000 locations to install escalators to facilitate old and physically-challenged people.

"The Railway Board has decided that lease period for Station Redevelopment shall be 99 years. Elevated suburban train corridor feasibility study is going on to decongest traffic in Metro cities," he said.

Goyal said the Indian Railways is also introducing employees' charter to solve the issue concerning the employees from time-to-time.

Goyal's announcements came after 23 people were killed and 31 were injured in a stampde at Elphinstone.