Thursday, February 26, 2015

Railway budget 2015 – Analysis

Though it is still early to Judge the 2015 railway budget framed by railway minister Suresh Prabhu, it is safe to say this is indeed a promising budget.  However, emphasizing the plan would not actually benefit people directly. It takes a government with strong will to actually implement these promising ideas, without bending its spine before hurdles and thorns.

Indispensable need for effective waste disposal       

Indian railway is still the single biggest human waste delivering system in the world. Clean India campaign, rediscovered by current Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi is gaining weight due to its importance for the development of the nation. Suresh Patel’s budget contains special mentions about this key issue. The plan is to replace 17,000 waste spreading old age toilets with bio toilets.
Construction of toilets in 650+ railways stations, introduction of vacuum toilets etc… is a good start, at least for now. However, the thing is, India is a vast geographical entity, and vigorous implementation without fail is required. We are still among some of the remaining rusty dusty dirt bag nations. If we are going to do it, we must do it now. Time is already over for us.





Safe or Sound?

With much shame, we must admit the fact that women in India are not safe. Increasing number of rapes and murders shows what dreadful situation we are in. Till now, all the proclamations and promises were just ‘sounds’. India does not need any more ‘sound’. What we need is a voice, not noise. This budget does mention about a plan to install CCTV for selected suburban trains, in the name of women safety. However, this is not only adequate, but sheer negligence.

Hi-Fi dreams

Technology revolution is, may be the first revolution that came to India without any delay. Let it be Agricultural revolution or financial revolution; all came to India decades late. Industrial revolution never even touched the soil of India. We are the second largest community to use Internet, right behind the big boss America.
It is the necessity of our time to bring some essential technological changes to the railway. 400 railway stations are going to furnish themselves with WiFi facility. Shatabdi trains will have entertainment systems. Above all, General compartment travelers will now have the ‘luxury’ of charging their mobile phones. Facilities such as Mobile application to file complaints against the railway authorities, round the clock helpline service, SMS alert systems etc… are already late to implement.


Towards sustainable development

Though we won’t find any euphoria yielding promises in this railway budget 2015, it does have many important suggestions. Even from a macro analysis of budget will show us its intentions to deliver a good customer experience.  Modernization of facilities, as well as implementation of hygienic toilets will make people say “yes, India can change”. Proposals to set up a railway university, improve coastal connectivity and track capacity are definitely a way towards sustainable growth. Plan expenditure of this budget will reach a record range of 1.1 lakh crore rupees, jumping from 66,000 crores last time.



(To be continued…)

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