New Delhi: Worried over the worst-ever operating ratio of Indian Railways, Union Minister Manoj Sinha on Tuesday stressed upon the need to increase earnings and reduce the expenditure of the national transporter. The minister also directed railways officials and other stakeholders to use its resources to produce solar energy. Sinha, while speaking at a conference on E-Mobility in Indian Railways, said that in 2017-18, railways electrified 4,000 km route and in 2018-19 it targets to electrify 6,000 km route. The Minister of State for Railways also exhorted the railways to use its resources and become the largest producer of solar energy by providing its spare land.
While speaking at the same event, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said that battery storage would be the key driver of e-mobility. Kant pointed out that the market share of the railways sector is falling rapidly.
"It is not good for the country. Railways will have to play a critical role in India's economic development," the Niti Aayog CEO said.
Noting that out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, 14 are in India, Kant said if India will use electric power then it will be able to reduce both pollution and import bill. On the occasion, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said that the government is looking at creating fast speed corridors. Lohani also stressed that the railways will have to improve services to its clients.