Railway sector needs big investment: Suresh Prabhu

15 Dec 2014 Evaluate

Expressing concerns over the financial health of Indian rail, the minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu has stated that it was too close for comfort and there was a need for massive investment in the sector. He estimated this requirement to be in the range of 6 lakh crore to 8 lakh crore for completion of announced projects. Further, the minister also did not rule out the possibility of raising train fees to meet the growing expense, but however emphasized that passenger service should be improved before hiking any rates, He expressed concern over the operating ratio of railways and pointed the expenditure like staff salary, fuel cost were higher.

On the issue of privatization, the minister clarified that railways could not be privatized on the pattern of other sectors like road and aviation and the basic objective behind this move was to improve rail service.

The minister, recently launched WiFi service at New Delhi station and unveiled that plan to eliminate unmanned level crossings was in the offing. Railway minister, envisaged a requirement for 30,000 cr to eliminate 11,300 UMLC in the country.

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