Rail Minister seeks France's cooperation

Identifying safety, customer service and high-speed of trains as top priority, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today invited participation of France, saying the government is trying to end the perception that doing business in India is difficult.
"There are multiple areas in rail sector where we can work together and in those areas we can hope for cooperation between France and India," Prabhu said while addressing an Indo-French Rail seminar here.
Wooing French companies, he said, "Let's find solutions and prepare completely actionable areas supported by corporate entities and set up shops here...Then we can always work together to make it happen."

The government is willing to work with French companies and is trying to remove the perception that doing business in India is a challenge, said Prabhu, who took charge of the cash-strapped ministry earlier this month.
"Once we work on it you will realise that doing business in India is not that cumbersome, he said, while seeking cooperation in areas of safety, customer service, improving communication network, and building high-speed train network.
Safety is an "inherent obligation" and of paramount importance, he said, adding "No one can compromise safety of any kind in the interest of commuters who board the train and want to reach their destinations safely."

Prabhu also sought France's cooperation in providing better services to customers to make their travel easier.

"How to make the platform look better, how to make tickets bookings become smoother and improve communication network can for commuters through various technology? So at all these levels you can think of some co-operation," he said.
He added that as a commuter spends maximum time in a rail compartment, efforts need to be made to upgrade that service and make it more comfortable.
"Solution to every problem is possible. We can work together. But for that you must come here first. You can have seminars and go back to France then nothing will happen. You have to come here to stay and make sure we work together," Prabhu said.