Question : STANDARD OF INDIAN RAILWAYS

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH )

(a) to (d) : A statement is attached.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.672 ASKED BY SHRI MOHAN RAWALE AND SHRIMATI RENU KUMARI TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2000 REGARDING STANDARD OF INDIAN RAILWAYS

(a) to (d) : Yes, Sir. Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) has prepared a brief Report on Indian Railways. The main recommendations made in the Report are:

· Use of more efficient locomotives.	· Improving wagon productivity.	· Increasing the axle-load.	· Upgrading Signalling and Telecom.	· Modernisation of terminals.

In its study entitled `India Transport Sector-Long Term Issues` dated 16.03.1995, the World Bank had concluded that in terms of traffic output and productivity, the broad gauge system of Indian Railways was among the best systems of the world. International comparison of Railway System, moreover, needs to be qualified by the wide differences in respect of the operating and socio- economic and the accounting and statistical standards adopted. It can, however, be seen from the Report that China and Russia, whose productivity indices are reported to be better than the Indian Railways, have operating ratios far worse than Indian Railways. Operating ratio reflects the financial viability of the system. It is noteworthy that Indian Railways has been able to earn an operating surplus consistently after discharging many social service obligations.

Improvement of the Railway system is a continuous process. Indian Railways has a regular machinery for identifying areas requiring improvement in functioning. New projects/schemes are implemented when their feasibility is established. Suggestions received from various quarters such as ASSOCHAM are always considered and acted upon. In fact, some of the measures suggested by the ASSOCHAM such as use of more efficient locomotives, improving the wagon designs, increasing the axle loads and upgradation of signalling & telecommunication, modernisation of terminals, and improvement of productivity of man power are already at various stages of implementation.