Jun 15 2015 : The Times of India (Delhi)
Train To 21st Century
Government must use Debroy report to bite the bullet and reform Indian Railways
Ever since the first passenger train left Bori Bunder for Thane on 16 April 1853, Indian Railways has been the underlying glue that literally held the nation together.The problem is that this glue has worn away and is no longer relevant to a new century. That first train journey in 1853, with steam locomotives, took an hour and 15 minutes. Bori Bunder station is not used today but a non-stop train journey from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus to Thane still takes 57 minutes. Indian rail needs urgent reform to make it much faster, more efficient, better managed and significantly leaner.
The recently submitted Bibek Debroy committee report suggests precisely this. It lays down a five-year roadmap to evolve a statutory rail regulator, scrap the rail budget as a separate entity and make room for more players in an “open access“ regime which would turn the Railways into just another train service provider. Its major suggestions of creating an independent, quasi-judicial Railway Regulatory Authority of India, of freeing the train network from political interference, of unbundling railway services and restructuring the jumbo-sized railways into more manageable smaller units must be pushed through forthwith. In indicating how railways can actually do this, the eight-member committee has toned down its earlier aggressive approach outlined in its March 2015 interim report by calling for gradual changes. This is pragmatic given that there have been nearly a dozen committee reports since 2000 alone that have recommended similar measures. At one level, the plethora of committees shows the urgency of the railway problem. Yet, hardly any reform measures have ever been implemented, demonstrating how reluctant all governments have been in taking on the biggest of public sector behemoths. Yet reform we must as the rail network affects every Indian and the growth of the economy directly. Consider this: Independent India inherited 53,596 km of train routes. This has grown by just over 22% to 65,806 km in 2013-14. In contrast, originating passenger traffic grew almost eight times from 1.28 million in 1950-51 to 8.3 million in 2013-14.We have constantly increased the number of daily trains but not capacity and management. Railways must open up to competition, reform and professional management. Given that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to emulate the Chinese miracle and in Suresh Prabhu we have a dynamic railway minister as well, this is India's chance.  |
Showing posts with label Indian Railway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian Railway. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
First CNG Train in India from Rewari-Rohtak section
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 13 January, 2015 inaugurated India’s first CNG (compressed natural gas) powered train on the Rewari – Rohtak link of Northern Zone. The move assumes significance as it will be the first time that a passenger train will be powered by an alternate fuel source apart from diesel.Railways have modified the 1,400 HP engine to run on dual fuel - diesel and CNG - through fumigation technology.
The Rewari passenger train will consume over 20 per cent of the CNG, covering 81 km long distance in about two hours. Railways had earlier conducted a trial run in the section.
The train comprising of two power cars and six car coaches has been manufactured by Integral Coach Factory at Chennai with the CNG conversion kit being supplied by Cummins.
Development of a CNG conversion technology which will permit utilisation of over 60 per cent CNG is also underway, he said, adding "switch over to LNG technology is also being planned as that will enable higher fuel carrying capacity."
Besides Rewari-Rohtak, Prabhu will also launch another passenger service between Rewari and Bikaner as announced in the Rail Budget 2014-15.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Railways Mulls Four Universities in Five Years
The Indian Railways is exploring the possibility of setting up four universities across the country for trained manpower. The railways, which is hailed as the lifeline of the country, currently has only one training institute located in Baroda. The idea of a dedicated railway university originally came from none other than ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan. Union Railway minister D V Sadananda Gowda had talked about plans for one such university in his maiden budget speech and has now extended it to set up four such universities in different parts of India in a phased manner over the next five years. According to Gowda, graduates coming out of railway universities will have an assurance of getting absorbed in the system as all-rounders. “We should have a full view on the issue by December and roll out the university from start of an academic year,” the minister said. These Railway Universities are slated to be world-class and will impart knowledge in diversified fields of technology and innovations in Railway operations etc. The intention to set up Railway Universities is not to limit the university to a particular region but to cover all four corners of the country. - See more at: http://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/2014/08/railways-mulls-four-universities-in-five-years/#sthash.zEoyS2Te.dpuf
The Indian Railways is exploring the possibility of setting up four universities across the country for trained manpower. The railways, which is hailed as the lifeline of the country, currently has only one training institute located in Baroda. The idea of a dedicated railway university originally came from none other than ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan. Union Railway minister D V Sadananda Gowda had talked about plans for one such university in his maiden budget speech and has now extended it to set up four such universities in different parts of India in a phased manner over the next five years. According to Gowda, graduates coming out of railway universities will have an assurance of getting absorbed in the system as all-rounders. “We should have a full view on the issue by December and roll out the university from start of an academic year,” the minister said. These Railway Universities are slated to be world-class and will impart knowledge in diversified fields of technology and innovations in Railway operations etc. The intention to set up Railway Universities is not to limit the university to a particular region but to cover all four corners of the country. - See more at: http://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/2014/08/railways-mulls-four-universities-in-five-years/#sthash.zEoyS2Te.dpuf
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
Jul 09 2014 : The Economic Times (Delhi)
Railway University on the Cards
OUR BUREAU MUMBAI
OUR BUREAU
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The Indian Railways, which employs over 14 lakh people, will become a better training ground for students. The government plans to set up a Railway University for technical and non-technical subjects and also have alliances with other technical institutions. Also on the anvil is an Innovation Incubation Centre and internships for engineering and management students.Talent experts have welcomed the move. “With university and internships, the government will realign three `Es' education, employment and employability. The Indian Rail ways is one of the largest employers and needs to get more apprentices. India had 3 lakh apprenticeships while China has 20 million (2 crore),“ said Manish Sabharwal, chairman, TeamLease Services.
Industry watchers say the skill gap is wide and with modernisation, need for better-equipped talent is urgent. “An incubation centre will help in developing ways to track trains via satellites, anti-collision systems, better ticketing methods and higher level of smart cards,“ said Jaijit Bhattacharya, partner-infrastructure and government services for KPMG India.
Bhattacharya added that internships would expose managerial cadre and engineers to an industry they normally may not have chosen.
“We need employees with managerial skills who can strategise and those who can innovate. The existing staff, for example, is not exposed to ways of dealing with high-speed trains and this could be a recipe for disaster if skills are not upgraded,“ said Bhattacharya The summer internship proposal has got a nod of approval from top business schools. “It's heartening to note that the railways will be offering summer internships to MBA students. The Indian Railways is an important national brand asset and must be rejuvenated and nurtured on a continual basis with innovative and customer-friendly ideas,“ said E Abraham, director, XLRI.
Industry watchers say the skill gap is wide and with modernisation, need for better-equipped talent is urgent. “An incubation centre will help in developing ways to track trains via satellites, anti-collision systems, better ticketing methods and higher level of smart cards,“ said Jaijit Bhattacharya, partner-infrastructure and government services for KPMG India.
Bhattacharya added that internships would expose managerial cadre and engineers to an industry they normally may not have chosen.
“We need employees with managerial skills who can strategise and those who can innovate. The existing staff, for example, is not exposed to ways of dealing with high-speed trains and this could be a recipe for disaster if skills are not upgraded,“ said Bhattacharya The summer internship proposal has got a nod of approval from top business schools. “It's heartening to note that the railways will be offering summer internships to MBA students. The Indian Railways is an important national brand asset and must be rejuvenated and nurtured on a continual basis with innovative and customer-friendly ideas,“ said E Abraham, director, XLRI.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Rlys expect new govt to expedite bullet train projects
Mahendra Kumar Singh
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New Delhi:
TNN
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Corridor To Ahmedabad On Top Of List
Bullet trains will soon be a reality. If Narendra Modi takes charge as Prime Minister, as predicted by a slew of exit polls, the Railways could well begin work on high-speed corridorsthe Gujarat chief minister’s pet project. Modi repeatedly referred to bullet rains during his campaign speeches and high-speed trains found a prominent space in BJP’s election manifesto.According to sources, Mumbai-Ahmedabad and New Delhi-Patna (via Varanasi) corridors are on top of the list and the national transporter is planning to accelerate these projects.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, expected to cost Rs 63,000 crore, is on track as the Railways have announced that a feasibility study will be completed by May 2015.
The train will run at a maximum speed of 320kmph and will traverse the 534km distance between the two cities in two hours.
Atop railway official argued that the costs of high speed train travel can be brought down in the country because of the economy of scale and indigenization. “The company is geared up to implement the project. We are waiting for the new
government to take a call on high speed trains,” said Satish Agnihotri, CMD, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) and Chairman of the High Speed Rail Corporation (HSRC).Agnihotri claimed bullet train projects are financially viable, despite being capital intensive as costs could be brought down by pursuing an indigenisation policy. He said coaches for bullet trains could be manufactured in India by transfer of technology which would cut down the costs. He also contested the idea that highspeed trains are meant for rich as high speed travel costs can be brought down by working on the economies of scale, considering massive passenger traffic.
As Modi has promised to connect the country with highspeed trains, the national transporter is optimistic that the capital intensive project would be fast-tracked if the saffron outfit comes to power in Centre.
The corporation is already working on a project to raise the speed limit on Delhi–Agra section to 160 kmph for bringing down total journey time from 130 minutes to less than 100 minutes while ensuring superior riding quality and pleasant travel experience.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, expected to cost Rs 63,000 crore, is on track as the Railways have announced that a feasibility study will be completed by May 2015.
The train will run at a maximum speed of 320kmph and will traverse the 534km distance between the two cities in two hours.
Atop railway official argued that the costs of high speed train travel can be brought down in the country because of the economy of scale and indigenization. “The company is geared up to implement the project. We are waiting for the new
government to take a call on high speed trains,” said Satish Agnihotri, CMD, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) and Chairman of the High Speed Rail Corporation (HSRC).Agnihotri claimed bullet train projects are financially viable, despite being capital intensive as costs could be brought down by pursuing an indigenisation policy. He said coaches for bullet trains could be manufactured in India by transfer of technology which would cut down the costs. He also contested the idea that highspeed trains are meant for rich as high speed travel costs can be brought down by working on the economies of scale, considering massive passenger traffic.
As Modi has promised to connect the country with highspeed trains, the national transporter is optimistic that the capital intensive project would be fast-tracked if the saffron outfit comes to power in Centre.
The corporation is already working on a project to raise the speed limit on Delhi–Agra section to 160 kmph for bringing down total journey time from 130 minutes to less than 100 minutes while ensuring superior riding quality and pleasant travel experience.
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