Railway Budget - A Lost Cause
By Ayush Prasad
Mar 13: The East India Company introduced Railways in India in 1853 and by 1924-25, it has grown to an extent that its budget was separated from Annual Government Budget. By 1947, there were 41 Railway Systems that was integrated into one unit in 1951. Today Indian Railways carries 3 Crore (30million) passengers and 2.8million tons of freight everyday on 65,000 km of routes & between 7500 stations. It reaches all but two Indian states of Sikkim and Meghalaya.
By 1947, the British Indian Government had built over 50,000 km of Railways and in almost 65 years since Independence, we have only added 15000 km. India has lowest Railway lines per square kilometer- India is 226, USA is 263 and while Germany is 450. In the 1800s, Railways brought about the Industrial Revolution in the US & Europe. It connected inland towns with sea-ports. It weaved the local economies together to form a national and continental economy. It was also one of the important factors responsible for America's prosperity.
India was the only country where it did not spur industrial growth; instead caused unemployment by helping imported goods read inland markets. Even today, Railway has only helped growth but has not become a central cause to drive it. But railways did play a very important socio-political role in India. India was a land of 562 princely states and 13 British colonies that became 1 nation because it was woven together by the Railway lines. Caste and religious divisions were broken down in the railway compartment.
Railways Today
Railways remains as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago. Thousands of people can travel over long distances comfortably. It is the most economical and quickest mode of mass transit. In 2009, the Obama Administration in the United States invested heavily in modernizing Railroads as a method to boost the economy. The Communist Government in China has modernized 8000 km of the 10200 km long Railways so that it can operate at over 200 km an hour. Railways have taken export oriented industries from shore side cities to inland China.
Indian Railway
Shatabdi is the fastest train in India and it runs at an average speed of 120 km/hr which is almost four times slower than the fastest train in China that have an average speed of over 450 km/hr. Most Indian trains run at speeds of around 80 km/hr. Short-distance trains have several stops, which further increases the journey time.
Indian Railways is one of the most unsafe mass-transit systems in the world. Over 15,000 people lose their lives every year in Indian Railway accidents. Over 202 people get injured in Railway accidents every day. According to expert studies, Indian Passenger Railway coaches have been designed to operate at maximum speeds of 56 km/hr and over 43,000 coaches operate at average speeds of 80 km/hr every day. Unlike aircrafts, Indian Railways have no evacuating procedures. In all major accidents, at least two deaths have been a result of a stampede.
Indian Railways have not taken any steps to become more disability friendly. Disabled passengers are usually not provided with any wheel-chair or assistance to board a train. Even State Transport Corporation in several states has taken several proactive steps. Unlike Airlines, Railway assistants are not trained to assist, in case of any medical emergency.
Railway Stations in India have been voted in the most unhygienic public utilities in the world. Though few amenities have improved such as drinking water, waiting rooms & battery operated carts to assist passengers. But they are micro steps in larger problems that trouble Indian Railways. The proposal to build Rail Corridors, similar to Golden Quadrilateral has been gathering dust due to fear of land acquisition.
Indian Railway is amongst the worst polluters in India. The open excreta on the tracks emit methane which is a greenhouse gas. All trains run on electricity provided by Thermal Power Station or on Diesel Engines. Railways have a lot of land and built up structures all of which could be used for extensive power generation thru solar power station.
What troubles Indian Railways?
The wide spectrum of in-house skills has led to self-sufficiency within the Indian Railways. Since 1996, the Minister of Indian Railways has been a member of a regional party. Both of these have contributed to a sense of independence and alienation of the Railways within the Government.
Over the years, the Indian Railways have developed unions and cadre of officers who are fearful and averse to change. They are stuck in the status quo and the box has become so large that no new ideas have come from the Railway Board in the last 10 years. The R&D center in Lucknow is only in name and has no functional utility. The political leadership has not given any vision or direction.
Due to lack of competition, the quality of services is amongst the poorest in the world. Trains are not started on a scientific basis but on whims and fancies of politicians. Improvements such as gauge conversion or electrification occur at snail rate. Due to excessive government control, Railway Engineering has not developed as a discipline in India unlike in East Asia, USA & Europe.
The Railway Budget is also not a correct representation of the financial situation. They are not audited according to international standards. Sudden payment of dues and increase in freight led to revenue surplus for 5 years during the last government, it model was not sustainable. Liabilities are often not accounted in the budget.
Conclusion
Railway needs capital investment and a comprehensive plan backed with conviction to modernize itself. It has skilled manpower that should be used to position Indian Railways in the 21st Century to engine & lead India’s growth story. Though, Railways will continue to play an important role in Indian society & economy regardless of its modernizing efforts but it could contribute much more to India if it modernizes.
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