PM to brainstorm with rail staff over roadmap for railways

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to around 400 railway staff in person, and around 20,000 over video conferencing to firm up a road map with innovative ideas to ensure the national transporter meets the aspirations in a fast changing scenario.

In a first in railways, Modi will attend 'Rail Vikas Shivir' -- the brainstorming session with the employees -- from November 25 to 27.

"The objective of the meet is to generate innovative and practical ideas from within the organisation that will help Indian Railways achieve commercial and societal objectives and become a world-class organisation," a senior official involved with the idea generation conference, said.

These ideas will form the basis of the road map for the railways and will be monitored by the Prime Minister himself, he said.

The railways has shortlisted eight themes to be taken up during the three-day event, including ways to ensure every train journey is a pleasurable experience for the passengers and making the railways the preferred freight carrier.

Since the earnings from freight and passengers are not very encouraging, the railways is focusing on non-fare revenue in a major way.

The 'Looking Beyond Fare' theme will also be a part of the conference, which aims to dramatically improve non-fare revenue through advertising and real estate development.

'Zero Fatalities' and modernisation of rail infrastructure with the use of latest technology are some of the other themes to be taken up.

All railway zones and divisions have been instructed to gear up for the three-day idea generation discussion with the Prime Minister. Each zone, headed by a general manager, is expected to prepare and present 10 to 15 unique ideas for the Rail Vikas Shivir.