(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the news item captioned `Railway think-tank suggests ways to improve services` appearing in The Indian Express dated April 2, 2000;
(b) if so, the facts of the matter reported therein and the reaction of the Government in regard thereto;
(c) whether the Government propose to implement the suggestions given by the expert committee to improve railway services; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
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.5142 ASKED BY SHRI AJAY SINGH
CHAUTALA TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.04.2000 REGARDING SUGGESTIONS
FOR IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY SERVICES
(a) to (d): Yes, Sir. Indian Railways have a regular
machinery for identifying areas requiring improvements in
railway functioning and implement new schemes when the
feasibility is established. Improvement of overall functioning
of the Railway system is a continuous process. Suggestions
received from various quarters as in case of Surya Foundation
are always considered and necessary changes are effected as
and when required. In fact, many of the recommendations now
suggested by Surya Foundation have already been independently
considered and acted upon. Also, a Railway Expert Group headed
by Dr.Rakesh Mohan, Director General, National Council of
Applied Economic Research is focussing many of these issues in
depth. The Terms of Reference for the Expert Group are as
under:
(i) To estimate the financing requirements of an expansion
and upgrading programme for Indian Railways that would
optimise the use of the rail transport mode and support a rate
of traffic growth commensurate to the growth rate of the
economy;
(ii) To identify the sources of funding of the estimated
investments over a fifteen year period, the fiscal and policy
measures needed for accessing the fund sources and priorities
in investments;
(iii)To study models of structure and ownership of rail
transport facilities devised and functioning in developed
countries and to recommend on their relevance to Indian
Railways’ requirements so as to facilitate the objectives
mentioned above; and
(iv) To recommend on suitable regulatory
arrangements that would facilitate orderly expansion
of the system, promote the desired degree of
competition and protect the users’ right to quality
service.