Railway Minister offers prayers at Lord Venkateswara temple

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today offered worship at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala near here today.
On his arrival, the Minister, accompanied by his family members, was accorded a traditional reception by the temple priests, Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the shrine, Chadalavada Krishnamurthy and top officials.
Prabhu and his family members offered worship to the presiding deity, temple officials said.
(Reopens DEL22)
The railways which has a huge amount of data as it
operates around 11,000 trains and carries about more than 2 crore passengers per day, is planning to moneytize its data.

"It is the first time in the world we are doing it... moneytising of the data. We are taking help of experts to do it," Prabhu said.

Asked whether sharing data will be construed as compromising the privacy of railway customers, he said, "This is called operations data, not passenger data. There will be no compromise on privacy in any way."
On if IRCTC data concerning passengers details will be moneytised, he said, "It will be operations data and not passenger data. Nobody is interested in IRCTC data. We will moneytise operations data. You will come to know when we will do it. This is nothing to do with IRCTC data."

To a question about raising funds with the World Bank, Prabhu said, "That is also in an advanced stage, a separate fund of the World Bank for the railways. The World Bank is creating a separate fund with Indian Railways and details are being worked out."
Asked about the progress regarding two locomotives plants in Bihar involving FDI, he said, "We reviewed the progress of Madhepura and Marhora projects and they are on track."
He, however, noted, "It is not only FDI but investment in the railways will come. We will keep doing that. Station development contract is already in process. We have already given the contract to one and 10 more will be given soon. We are also doing it on government-to-government basis."

About reforms, he said, "All of our reforms will be bearing fruits in the next two-three years time. Some are already happening, some are in the process."
To a question comparing the railways with the road sector in terms of laying tracks, he said, "There is no comparision between road sector or that sector with this sector.
"We are on the right track. The railways will be on the path of progress in the years to come," Prabhu added.