Rlys to focus on private funds, modernisation

Indian Railways (IR) is set to launch Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels on the eve of the Railway Budget, is likely to focus on modernisation and devise new strategies for attracting private investment.

With the difficult decision of rail fare hike already taken, the Narendra Modi-led government's promise of having "railway stations like airports" will be given a push by identifying more stations for modernisation drive. According to senior railway officials, more stations will be identified for monetising vacant land and leasing space to private players to diversify earnings. The railways are also exploring options to utilise the space above platforms for commercial development.

In all 163 stations have been identified so far under the station modernisation drive.

Innovations in online ticketing are also being explored. Recently, IR conducted a study for automatic check-in at the stations. A final decision is yet to be taken about implementing the technology.

Real-time tracking for train arrival and departure, SMS-update for ticket confirmation, etc will be extended to all customers booking through the IRCTC online ticketing website. About 30 per cent of the overall traffic of the IRCTC ticketing website has already been shifted to the new, improvised site. The entire traffic will be shifted to the new website, developed by CRIS (Centre for Railway information Systems), by the year-end.

To boost freight earnings and to diversify traffic, high-capacity wagons for carrying commodities such as milk will be procured. IR is keenly looking to set up a Logistics Corporation with major contribution from private players to provide door-to-door solutions. IR's contribution to the equity will be its land. Although the freight loading targets set in the interim rail budget might not be revised, the plan is to bring efficiency to the traffic movement and boost earnings. Optimising on empty movement of wagons and venturing into 17 more commodities is on the to-do list. Land monetisation will be another focus area. The Rail Land Development Authority could end up contributing Rs 500 crore more this year through its various projects.

With limited availability of funds, the Railways' key challenges lie on allocating money to passenger safety concerns and to take further steps for the semi-high speed pilots pending on the Delhi-Kanpur and Delhi-Chandigarh route. Senior railway officials involved with the project say the Delhi-Agra route was much easier and needed minimal investment and preparation.

The other two routes require expenditure on tracks, curves and fencing for pilots to be conducted and whether any budgetary allocation is made to these projects will be clincher.

Given that there have been two rail accidents in less than two months, Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda's promise of giving priority to passenger safety will be tested owing to the paucity of funds. The railways' expert committee on safety has recommended Rs 50,000 crore be spent on new tracks, removing unmanned level-crossings, etc, which is yet to be implemented.