The Railway Budget 2009-10: A few comments

Union railway minister Mamta Banerjee's railway budget is targeted to provide a dignified journey to each and every traveller. Despite all the good provision made in that directions, there are several issues that still need to be voiced...

CJ: Vinod Anand

Mon, Jul 06, 2009 16:39:24 IST

Views:
248
Comments:
0

Rate:

0.0 / 0 votes

India Railway Information :

THE RAILWAY Budget as presented on July 3, 2009 has many good points like:

No increase in passenger fares;
No hike in freight rates;
A focus on passenger amenities and comforts;
Many new trains,
Izzat (respect) for poor and unorganised workers;
Yuva for youngsters and Duronto for long-distance trains;
At least one doctor on each long-distance train;
Air-conditioned double-decker coaches on inter-city trains;
Tatkal charge down from Rs 150 to Rs100, booking period reduced from five to two days;
Ladies only suburban trains;
Integrated security scheme; and
Passenger reservation system to cover 200 more towns.

In respect of the Budget the Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “I want every person should travel on our railways with dignity. I therefore wish to present the gift of travel with dignity to even the poorest.”

But despite all these gifts, there are a few lacunas. These are:

They should focus on health and hygiene. For example, the toilets in all the coaches in all the trains should be kept clean and hygienic and updated. There is another important aspect of this matter, which they should learn from the developed countries like UK, where once the train stops, the toilets are automatically closed so that no one can go inside and spill whatever it is through the commode on the railway track and leave the stink there. This would enormously provide immense cleanliness at all the stations. The Railway Ministry should borrow the technology in this respects from foreign countries, and made it effective as soon as possible;
There should be a strict ban on all the vendors to enter the various coaches and sell their products (as we see these days);
Senior citizens should always be allocated lower berths;
Both the passengers and Railway officials (like conductors) should be made fully aware of their rights and responsibilities;
The porters should have an authorised license, token and dress code, and should be well trained in terms of public behaviour and should not create any hassles for the passengers in all respects.

Once these things are also added to the Budget, every passenger would surely travel with ‘dignity’. I am sure these issues would be taken up in the Lok Sabha while discussing the Railway Budget.

E-mail |

Print | Post comment