Ten days after taking over the responsibility of Railway Ministry, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reviewed its performance and directed fast-tracking of work on major projects like locomotive units to send a positive signal to investors.
He also asked the Railways to give attention to supply of fertiliser for farmers, and to expeditiously move foodgrain for the public distribution system from Punjab and Haryana for consumption in the rest of the country.
There should be no slackening in movement of coal to power plants so that sufficient stock can be built up before the monsoon, he said.
The PM also underscored the need to improve the operating ratio by increasing revenues and decreasing operating costs even as the Railways successfully absorbed the additional staff costs after the Sixth Pay Commission.
