Kharge to announce several new trains on Feb 12

Faced with revenue shortfall, Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to refrain from announcing many populist measures in the interim budget on February 12.
However, there will be announcement of new trains and some measures for providing better amenities at stations and trains besides steps to strengthen safety for passengers.
Since Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, there are demands from many zones and MPs for new trains.
Kharge has conceded some demands and as a result survey of new lines, extension and increase of certain train service are also to be announced in the vote-on-account statement, sources said.

The vote-on-account is likely to mention the expeditious work on coaching complex for maintenance facility at Gulberga.
Kharge has expressed serious concern over falling revenue and categorically asked to undertake all possible steps to arrest the further fall in earnings in the recent General Managers meeting.
The minister is also likely to address the issue of increased number of fire incidents in trains in the recent past by rolling out plans for anti-fire measures in certain important trains.
Beside, he is expected to focus on more passenger-friendly measures like installation of upgraded real-time train information system at stations and operation of automatic ticket vending machines at many stations.