Put in your best to realise rlys' full potential:Prabhu to GMs

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today reiterated that the national transporter would not be privatised and asked senior officials to put in their best efforts "so that our full potential is utilised to deliver the best services to the people".
"There are several expectations from various stakeholders of Indian Railways," Prabhu said at the General Managers' Conference here, and asked the senior officials to "live up to those expectations".
The minister said, "There is a need to benchmark our performance so that our full potential is utilised to deliver the best services to the people."
In his bid to put speculations over privatisation of railways to rest, he said, "Railways will not be privatised and the ownership of it will always remain with the government. We need funds for various pending projects and future projects... Vigorous efforts are being made to mobilise investments in Railways sector."

Besides General Managers of all zonal railways, heads of railway production units attended the meet.
The agenda of the conference included formulation of a vision document for Indian Railways in the next five years with short term and long term targets like improving safety and productivity, global benchmarking of railway services for customers, and improving rolling stock.

The minister said a White Paper is being brought out which will provide the vision and help formulate the road map for taking the railways forward.
Capacity augmentation is another important area which needs attention as "we have to de-congest highly dense traffic routes through double line, triple line or more lines, besides creating new connectivity," Prabhu said, adding he had written letters to Members of Parliament requesting them to use MPLAD funds for railway works for the benefit of the passengers.

Referring to the need for upgradation, he said, "Railways will also have to modernise its rolling stocks, signaling system and safety operations."
The minister said he has already initiated the process of delegating powers to field functionaries like General Managers, Divisional Railway Managers and Station Managers but reminded them that with power comes the responsibility to deliver.