SATISH HANDA
Ministry of Railways on July 31, 2020 in a letter to all General Managers, Director General Rail Design & Standard Organization (RDSO) Lucknow, Chif Administration Officer New Delhi has directed to delete word ‘earning’ replacing with the word ‘revenue’ and decided to privatize rail travel services initially on few routes across the country through private investors within the country as well as from other countries. In a high level meeting held at railway headquarter New Delhi, decision has been taken to introduce private rail services initially with 150 trains on 109 routes and financial experts in Indian railways has started to work out savings incurred by railways in this regard by having alliance with private investors and prepared a balance sheet taking in view all expenses as regard staff salaries, allowances, pension to retired staff, operational expenses comparing with the revenue likely to be collected while having alliance with private companies.
According to information, railways preparing trial annual balance sheet in all 16 zones across in the country where proposal to start private train services are likely to be introduced on rail tracks in first phase to work out scheme profitable for both Indian Railways as well as private investors. According to railway department officials, the projected balance sheet will bring rough estimate to investors regarding expenses as well as revenue earned by them to enable joint venture beneficial for both investors as well as railways. Needless to say, Indian Railways is trying to provide best possible facilities to passengers while travelling during rail journeys hoping that the passengers would be able to get additional comforts from private players at additional cost including ‘Tatkal’ ticket service at extra fare as available at present and variety of foods available through private catering.
According to information, there are 12617 trains connecting nearly 7172 railway stations plying on 115,000 km long rail track carrying nearly 23 million passengers daily. According to a railway spokesman, Indian Railways trying to hand over most of the essential services at the railway station as well as in the trains in private hands to enable travelling passengers in the trains have happy journey similar to those offered by Indian Railway Station Development Corporation Ltd (IRSDCL) at present handling services including, Maintenance of Retiring Rooms, Waiting Rooms, Railway Reservations, Cleanliness and Maintenance, Vehicle Parking, Help Desk Service, Emergency Medical Services, Maintenance of Toilets and above all catering services at the railway station and inside the trains.
