Safety, speed to be focus of new railway minister

New government to assess merits of Rail Tariff Authority: Gowda

A day after the Gorakdham Express train accident that killed over 25 people, Sadananda Gowda took charge as the railway minister, assuring that safety and security, along with increasing speed of the trains, would be the focus of the ministry.

Gowda, 61, on Tuesday met Arunendra Kumar, chairman, Railway Board, and other board members. He is also scheduled to take a meeting of the safety committee in the wake of the accident to take the appropriate measures. He is also likely to visit the accident site on Wednesday. Minister of State Manoj Sinha has already left for the accident site at Sant Kabir Nagar near Lucknow.

The minister said a decision on the Rail Tariff Authority was taken by the previous UPA government. The new government would assess its merits, he said. Gowda told mediapersons that political compulsions that hindered development in the Railways would be done away with. “Projects, which are not politically-motivated, will be taken forward.”

Gowda, who had briefly held the post of chief minister of Karnataka before Jagadish Shettar took over, is a Lok Sabha member from Bangalore North and has a degree in law from the Vaikunta Baliga College.

While recognising the potential of public-private partnerships, Gowda argued that projects needed to be more pragmatically structured for success. He also said the well-known face behind the success of Delhi Metro,

E Sreedharan, could be more actively involved with the ministry as a consultant or expert helping to shape a road map. “I will take another eight-ten days to chart out a road map for the future. I will work with senior officers to come up with realistic efforts for development,” said Gowda.

On the under-utilised Indian Railways Safety Fund, Gowda said safety would be the key priority and funds would be utilised properly. He said demands for more funds to ensure safety would also be provided.

PTI Reports:
A call on any passenger fare hike in trains will be taken after discussions in the Cabinet and also with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gowda said on Tuesday. “I will have a discussion with my Cabinet colleagues. I will also have discussions with railway officials. Finally I will have discussion with honourable Prime Minister and then only whatever decision,” he said.

After assuming charge at Rail Bhawan here when asked whether the railways will go for a hike in passenger fares and freight rates as proposed by the previous government.