Indian railway budget is still one of the important event in national politics and economy. It is very close to the Indian people heart as it provides the largest transporatation network across India. It is still the largest employer in the world and life line of India. After the resignation of Ms Mamta Bannerjee as railway minister, Mr Dinesh Trivedi took over the ministry. His last year as a minister was uneventful.
The railway budget 2012-13 as usual was also uninteresting, due to its lack of status update of past, any new way to improve the present and completely missing vision of future for Indian railways. I could not stop myself asking what happened to last year targets, while following the live railway budget, The media did put some status update of incomplete project which were huge in number but Trivedi did not care to provide us an update what happened to previous projects and why those are getting delayed.Some news put it as railway project cost shoot up 95% due to delays. That's an appalling number in itself. So what is the plan to improve this was completely missing. He was responsible for almost a year to improve the performance but he did almost nothing. Next thing he said about unmanned track crossing lot of damage of human life, but isn't it true that every railway budget put the same point without achieveing any target year on year.
Introduction of new trains as always was talk of the minister with 75 express and 21 passenger trains and as previously said that he did not care to provide information about how he will complete previously incomplete projects. The fare hike was expected and to his accolate he did it, but the way it was introduced was like giving only a bit and hiding a lot of it. It does not mentions what is the percentage rate hike and I could not find till date the percentage hike. Also how much did it cover the fuel inflation of previous years and the way forward.
There was concession scheme for sportmen and ill people, which is fine with everyone. Rail khel ratna award is a welcome move as most sportman come as govt employee. Freight increase of 20% was already announced a week before the budget, so nothing new was expected there. e-procurement, e-auction of scraps is planned but no target is given, so on the face value it has no value. DRDO developed bio tiolet on test 2500 coaches but no idea when it will be introduced at all levels.
Satelite based real time information will be given in 18 months, as a techy i know test run is complete and good to see a mention in budget with a target. Also, nice to see rail connectivity to Nepal and Bangladesh planned.
The railway budget 2012-13 as usual was also uninteresting, due to its lack of status update of past, any new way to improve the present and completely missing vision of future for Indian railways. I could not stop myself asking what happened to last year targets, while following the live railway budget, The media did put some status update of incomplete project which were huge in number but Trivedi did not care to provide us an update what happened to previous projects and why those are getting delayed.Some news put it as railway project cost shoot up 95% due to delays. That's an appalling number in itself. So what is the plan to improve this was completely missing. He was responsible for almost a year to improve the performance but he did almost nothing. Next thing he said about unmanned track crossing lot of damage of human life, but isn't it true that every railway budget put the same point without achieveing any target year on year.
Introduction of new trains as always was talk of the minister with 75 express and 21 passenger trains and as previously said that he did not care to provide information about how he will complete previously incomplete projects. The fare hike was expected and to his accolate he did it, but the way it was introduced was like giving only a bit and hiding a lot of it. It does not mentions what is the percentage rate hike and I could not find till date the percentage hike. Also how much did it cover the fuel inflation of previous years and the way forward.
There was concession scheme for sportmen and ill people, which is fine with everyone. Rail khel ratna award is a welcome move as most sportman come as govt employee. Freight increase of 20% was already announced a week before the budget, so nothing new was expected there. e-procurement, e-auction of scraps is planned but no target is given, so on the face value it has no value. DRDO developed bio tiolet on test 2500 coaches but no idea when it will be introduced at all levels.
Satelite based real time information will be given in 18 months, as a techy i know test run is complete and good to see a mention in budget with a target. Also, nice to see rail connectivity to Nepal and Bangladesh planned.
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