Safety, trains punctuality challenges for railways: Prez

Indian railways is faced with manifold challenges of ensuring safety, security and punctual running of trains, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.
Addressing a group of probationers of various railways services, he said the railways is not only one of the largest rail networks in the world but one of those which are well managed.
Indian Railways is not just a commercial organisation. It has also extended help and support to the needy when required. It has carried the tremendous responsibility of economic development of the country, the President said.
"However, Indian railways is also faced with manifold challenges which include ensuring safety, security and punctual running of trains," Mukherjee said.

He said that the railways has a deeper meaning than being a mere transportation system. It integrates far-flung areas of the country. Like the Indian Post Office, it is one of the few organisations in the country which have a truly national character having influence over the whole country, the President said.
"In undertaking journeys the individual identities of the people who are travelling are replaced by the fact that they all are passengers," Mukherjee said.

With 66,000 Km of route length, the track network of the Indian railways stretches to almost every nook and corner of the country. It carries 23 million passengers daily.

The probationers of Indian Railway Service of Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers and Railway Protection Force called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Mukherjee asked the probationers to always remember that through the services they were not merely earning their livelihood were making a meaningful contribution to the country.
He said that they were getting a tremendous opportunity of serving the country. They must always show ingenuity, innovation and initiative while discharging their duties, the President said.