Year End Review-2006 - Agreements Signed with banks for Setting up 1393 ATMs AT RAILWAY STATIONS
REVENUE GENERATION GOES UP BY 15.79 PER CENT
19 RAILWAY STATIONS TO BE UPGRADED TO WORLD CLASS STANDARDS
The
year 2006 has been significant for the Railways in achieving goals and targets.
The sharp upturn in performance has come about as a result of a carefully
crafted strategy of reform built around generation of capacity through
optimization of the existing infrastructure and assets and differentiated
approach to the social and commercial segments of traffic. The advantage has
been capitalized on the demand side by a dynamic and market driven tariff
policy linked to seasonality and price elasticity of demand. The strategy of
across-the-board increase in freight rates has been replaced by selective
changes in the tariff in response to market forces. However, the general trend
has been reduction of tariff in real terms. Augmentation of popular passenger
trains by using spare stocks of coaches has led to increase in carrying
capacity per train. Seating capacity and occupancy of trains are also being
increased besides reducing losses on catering and parcel services and
increasing non-passenger fare income. These innovations have led to lowering of
unit cost of operation in the face of rising cost of inputs. The measures have
transformed the Railways as a competitive and viable alternative to road
transport.
The
significant turn around in the Indian Railways has evoked great interest in business schools in India
and abroad. The Railway Minister was invited first to the Indian Institute of
Management at Ahmedabad and then students from Harvard and Wharton Business
Schools called on the Minister in New Delhi recently to know all about the
transformation in the Indian Railways where the students were presented with
the facts centering round the turn around.
For the first time in the history of the International Union of
Railways (UIC), Shri J. P. Batra,
Chairman, Railway Board was elected unanimously as the Chairman of the
International Union of Railways. This is significant since it will enable India
to get latest technologies from abroad with transfer of technology provision
and will help India in getting updated on various facets of the functioning of
railways.
Revenue Generation
The total approximate earnings of
Indian Railways on originating basis during the period 1st April 2006 to 30th
November 2006 were Rs. 39665.73 crore compared to Rs. 34256.23 crore during the
corresponding period last year, marking an increase of 15.79 per cent. The
total earnings were 2.48 per cent more than the Budget target of Rs. 38707.52
crores. The total goods earnings of Rs. 26661.49 crore have shown an increase
of 16.84 per cent during the period April-November 2006 over Rs. 22819.50 crore
for the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 3.53 per
cent over the Budget target of Rs. 25751.94 crore for the same period. The Net
Tonne Kilometres (NTKM) have gone up from 277429 million during April-November
2005 to 304864 million in April-November 2006, an increase of 9.89 per cent.
The performance of Indian Railways in respect of loading has gone up from
421.95 MT in April-November 2005 to 464.39 MT (approx.) in April-November 2006,
an increase of 10.6 per cent.
The total passenger revenue earnings
on originating basis during this period were Rs.11332.35 crore , an increase of 11.84 per cent over Rs.
10132.70 crore during the same period last year. The total passenger revenue
earnings were 0.55 per cent more than the Budget target of Rs. 11270.70 crore
for the same period.
Railways’ operating ratio now stands at 84
per cent and the projected operating ratio for the year 2006-07 is 78 per
cent. The Fund Balances have improved
from Rs. 359 crores in the year 2002-03 to more than Rs. 12000 crore
in 2005-06 and likely to be about
Rs. 16,000 crore by the end of the current financial year. The working
expenses during the period April-November 2006 have come down by Rs. 279.75
crore from the budget provision of Rs.25687.81 crore.
Dedicated
Freight Corridors
The Indian
Railways have embarked upon an ambitious plan to develop Dedicated Freight
Corridors, including additional corridors for freight traffic. On these freight
corridors, higher axle load wagons and double stack containers will operate.
This will not only improve the quality of rail freight services but also reduce
the cost of rail transportation significantly.
A new Public Sector Undertaking named Dedicated Freight Corridor
Corporation of Indian Limited (DFCCIL) has been formed to implement the
Dedicated Freight Corridor Project. The Company has been entrusted with
construction of Eastern and Western Corridors worth Rs, 22,000 crores. The
Eastern Corridor will start from Ludhiana in Punjab and will terminate at
Sonnagar. The Eastern Route will be extended to the proposed Port in Kolkata
area considering the possibility of increase in freight traffic on account of
proposed Deep Sea Port. The Western Corridor will start from Jawaharlal Nehru
Port and will be routed via Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur and Rewari to
Tuglakabad and Dadri.
Monitoring
of trains is done through ‘Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) which
has reduced the transit time. The Turn Around Time of wagons has been reduced
from 7 days to 5 days by reducing the time taken in loading/unloading and
transit.
The process of
rationalizing passenger and freight structures was started in the year 2002-03
to remove anomalies and sharpen the competitive edge of the Railways. In the
freight segment, the number of commodities in the goods tariff has been reduced
from 4000 commodities to 27 main commodity groups in 2006-07.
A number
of steps have been taken for modernization and technological upgradation of
freight stock consistent with the policy to introduce high productivity freight
trains. Double stack container trains have been introduced on the
Jaipur-Pipavav route. A global
tender is in process to induct high productivity freight rolling stock on
Indian Railways by acquiring modern designs of bogies, couplers, draft gears
and break gears from advanced Rail Road Systems of the world through transfer
of technology. The Research, Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) has taken
up designing of 25 tonne axle load wagons which will carry loads up to 80 tonnes. The manufacture of this wagon will
start in 2007-08.
The total length of electrified railway lines on Indian Railways
as on 1st April 2006 is
17450 route kilometres. This is about 28 per cent of the total railway network
and covers major trunk routes. Electrified section saves diesel oil saving
precious foreign exchange, is environmental friendly, is ideal for running
heavy freight trains and is a more efficient way of transmitting power besides
efficiency through regenerative braking ensuring cost effective safety
standards. Electrification projects are considered primarily on economic
considerations excepting projects justified as operational necessity.
Passenger Amenities
To
make Indian Railways more aesthetic, comfortable and passenger friendly with
lighting, water supply, cleanliness and a friendly railwayman to help every
customer in need, the Ministry of Railways has issued a list of ‘touch and
feel’ points to all the Zonal Railways. The ‘touch and feel’ points are –
Improvement in cleanliness standard in trains and at stations; Improvement in
lighting particularly on platforms, concourse, waiting halls, circulating area,
booking, reservation and enquiry offices; Improvement in circulating area at
all-important stations and making it congestion free and smooth with proper
demarcated parking areas; Upgradation of
waiting rooms, waiting halls and retiring rooms; Installation of Train
Running Position Indication Boards at all important stations; Improvement
in announcement systems at stations;
Upgradation of Booking & Enquiry
offices; Provide more counters to substantially reduce waiting period; Ensure
availability of drinking water at all stations; Development of adequate sitting
space in waiting halls/platforms; Improvement in quality of food supplied in
trains; Improvement in quality of bedrolls in trains and redressal of public
grievances. The schemes include round the clock grievance control rooms.
Indigenously
manufactured air-conditioned coaches and buffet cars of LHB design with
superior features like corrosion free shell, enhanced safety features, disc
break systems and controlled discharge toilet systems have been introduced.
During the current financial year, 657 trains have been speeded up and another
192 trains have been made superfast so far.
A pilot project called Clean Train Stations (CTSs) has been
introduced and 25 Railway Stations have so far been nominated to bring about a
perceptible change in the standards of cleanliness in trains enroute their journey. 354 stations in all have been selected for
development under the scheme with special focus on improved circulating area,
improved concourse, better platform surfaces, improved waiting halls with
toilets, adequate lighting, modern water booths and improved seating
arrangements etc. Directives have also been issued for provision of digital
public address system and train indication boards at A, B and C class stations.
A
zero-based time table was introduced this year in two phases which has resulted
in speeding up of a number of trains, significantly reducing the time taken to
travel between two stations.
The
Railways have decided to set up 100 budget hotels at major Railway Stations for
the benefit of Railway passengers and tourists in general. The hotels will be
set up by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC)
through private participation.
Garib Rath
trains, redesigned with higher berthing and seating capacity of 75 and 102
respectively as against 64-67 in conventional AC-3 tier/AC Chair Car coaches,
have been introduced with a view to provide air-conditioned facility to
passengers at an affordable price.
In line
with environment protection policy, the Railways have decided to go in for
discharge free toilets in coaches. Field trials have been planned for sealed
toilets with vacuum retention and storage of waste and evacuation at terminals
and biological toilets involving
biodegradation of waste, before their adoption in all the coaches.
Platforms
at 288 Railway Stations are being extended to accommodate 24 coach trains. 334
Railway Stations have been selected for improvement of passenger amenities covering
the touch and feel items. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed
with State Bank of India and six other
nationalized banks for setting up 1393 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at railway stations throughout the
country.
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Trade and
Industry have been invited to participate in railway projects through the
Public Private Partnership (PPP) route.
There are a number of possibilities for participation of private sector
in Railway Projects like modernization of Railway Stations, setting up of agro
product outlets at Railway Stations, construction of sidings and logistic
parks, wagon manufacture, port connectivity and setting up of dedicated freight
corridors etc. The container policy has been liberalized for participation of
private sector. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has
also encouraged private participation in catering and parcel business.
The Railways also propose to set up outlets for agro
products at 7000 Railway Stations through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
These outlets will purchase milk, fruits, vegetables etc. at reasonable prices
and these products will be carried to the markets through airconditioned
containers. The successful implementation of this project will result not only
in farmers getting reasonable prices for their products but also make available
fresh milk and vegetables etc. to the urban population resulting in overall
economic development of the country.
Railway
Stations at par with World Standards
19 Railway Stations have been
identified for development as World Class stations. The names of these stations
are – Pune; Carnac Bunder, Mumbai; Howrah; Lucknow; Anand Vihar, Delhi;
Bijwasan, Delhi; Amritsar; Chandigarh; New Delhi; Varanasi; Chennai; Thiruvananthapuram;
Secunderabad; Ahmedabad; Patna; Bhubaneswar; Mathura; Bangalore and Bhopal.
E-Governance
Reservation
of tickets through Internet is available for all trains, which are covered
through computerized reservations. At present, any customer can book tickets
through the Internet, provided he can make payment online. Payment options have been liberalized by
introducing the facility of direct Debit through Internet and Prepaid Cash
Cards in addition to Credit Cards. In
addition, facility of booking through e-ticketing has been introduced where
conventional ticket is dispensed with.
Instructions have been issued to permit
Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) members to book e-tickets. With a
view to ensure easy availability of tickets, efforts are on to proliferate
e-ticketing by authorizing outside agencies to book e-tickets. Agents will be
appointed in all areas including rural areas depending upon demand pattern.
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation is selling e-tickets through
SIFY Cyber Cafes, E-Seva of Andhra Pradesh Government, distributors of ITZ Cash
Cards/Done Cash Cards outlets and Punjab State Government run kiosks. It is a
continuous process.
Integrated Train Enquiry System has been
launched for knowing Train Running Status, PNR Status, and availability of
accommodation through Interactive Voice Recording System. National Train
Enquiry System has also been launched to provide updated position to the
passengers.
Research
And Development
Railways
have developed CNG propelled diesel multiple units to reduce dependence on
petroleum products. RDSO will undertake a project to convert diesel multiple
units to work on CNG.
The
Railways have experimented and cleared the use of bio-diesel with extent of 10
per cent mixing with diesel oil for use in diesel locomotives.
The project for setting up of esterfication plant and further R&D
initiatives have been sanctioned. A number of improvements are being
incorporated in a phased manner in the Engine driver’s cab to improve the
working environment and efficiency.
Work
on upgradation of Optical Fibre Cable
network to High Bandwidth STM-16 network is in full swing on 25000 route
kilometers of Indian Railways. STM-16 has already been commissioned on 24000
route kilometers approximately.
Mobile Train Radio Communication for operational and
maintenance needs on A, B and C routes of Indian Railways have already been
sanctioned as per the recommendations of the Railway Safety Review Committee
and are under execution. This will be a useful telecom aid in enhancing safety
in train operations and maintenance.
Safety
Safety is
a prime concern of Indian Railways and adoption of new measures to improve
safety is a continuous process. The measures being undertaken by Indian
Railways to minimize incidence of accidents include adoption of modern
technology for interlocking and signalling system, upgradation standards of
track and rolling stock, modernization of maintenance practices, replacement of
over-aged assets, provision of Anti-Collision Device (ACD) and upgradation of
training aids like simulators. An Anti Collision Device (ACD) has been
developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. to prevent collisions at high
speeds. The device has been installed on 1736 route kilometers of Northeast Frontier
Railway and will be commissioned after ensuring successful evaluation of
performance monitoring. The target year for completing the balance work is
2014.
In
conformity with the accepted recommendations of Railway Safety Review
Committee, Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) is being provided as a
safety measure. TPWS is being provided
on 250 route kilometers on important sections of Northern, North Central
and Southern Railways. The system is targeted for operation by March 2007.
The system
of electronic verification of complete arrival of trains at stations by means
of Block Proving through Axle Counter (BPAC) along with a major thrust for
development of reliable digital axle counters for operations under Indian
conditions is being provided. So far 836, out of 3000 block sections with
central panel stations have been covered as on 30th November 2006.
The work on the remaining central panel stations is proposed to be completed during the XI Plan period i.e.
20007-2012.
To
enhance line capacity and safety and detect cases of discontinuity in rails and
removal of rails by way of sabotage, Automatic
Block Signalling (ABS) with continuous track circuiting is being
sanctioned on 2000 route kilometers on trunk routes. Work on 1517 route kilometers
has been completed as on 30th November 2006 and the target year for
completing the entire work is 2009.
Accidents in Railways have come down from 168
during the corresponding period last year to 143 this year. The punctuality
percentage of mail/express trains during April-November 2006 was 92.30 compared
to 92.0 during the same period last year.
The
special Railway Safety Fund (SRSF) was set up on 1st October 2001
with a non-lapsable fund of Rs. 17,000 crore on the recommendations of Railway
Safety Review Committee. The Fund was
set up to pull up the backlog of arrears for track renewals, bridges, rolling
stock and signalling gear within a fixed time frame. Works amounting to Rs.
12,965 crore have been completed by the end of March, 2006. The target for the
year 2006-07 for execution of works is Rs. 2240 crore.
Production Units
The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) produced 782
coaches during the period April-November 2006 exceeding the target by 16
coaches while Rail Wheel Factory (RWF) produced 87336 wheels and 36145 axles
during April-November 2006 compared to the target of 86285 wheels and 33864
axles. Chitranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) and
Rail Coach Factory (RCF) produced 94 electric locos, 124 locos and 852 coaches
respectively equaling the target.
Heritage Sites
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has been
inscribed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in their 29th World Heritage
Committee meeting, held in Durban, South Africa. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway
is easily the most authentic and original rack and adhesion railway in the
world. It remains much as it was at the time of its completion in September
1908 such as stations, signalling, locomotives and rolling stock.
Kalka-Shimla Railway, Neral Matheran near Mumbai and Kangra Valley
Railway (Joginder Nagar-Pathankot) are
other heritage sites. Other mountain railways like have unique qualities for
the inscription by UNESCO.
Relations
With Neighbouring Countries
As part of
the ongoing measures to improve relations with our neighbours, the
Munabao-Khokrapar Thar Express train has started operations between Munabao in
India and Khokrapar in Pakistan to facilitate residents of both the countries
to visit their relatives.
EK/IKC/HK/CK
(Release ID :23734)