Govt to introduce Rail Regulator, no new trains in Budget: Prabhu

The Ministry of Railways is mulling to introduce a legislation to have a ‘Rail Regulator’ in place, which after being passed by Parliament, will look into reviewing passenger and freight tariffs.

“The draft for the Regulatory body is ready and we will be putting it up on the website. The name for it is still being decided. This body will be independent. A law needs to be in place, for which we need to go to Parliament. It will not be put up in the coming Winter session, but after that (probably the Budget session).  We will also consult the Opposition on the issue and take their opinion on it,” said. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

The Minister added: “The focus of this autonomous body will be on tariff fixation – both freight and fare – and also how to get PPP (public-private partnership) projects without compromising public interest.” 

Prabhu said the Indian Railways would also seek suggestions from the public, which will be included to the legislation.

Talking about the next Railway Budget, he said the ministry does not plan to announce any new trains and the focus of the Budget would primarily be on the financial aspect. 

“The focal point of the Budget should essentially be on the financial aspect. No new trains will be announced. There is no connection of the Budget with train announcement,’ he said.

Hitting out at his predecessor Mallikarjun Kharge, who was a minister in the UPA-II government, Prabhu said that the last budget presented by him was a ‘stoppage budget’.

The Minister said: “Kharge presented a Budget, which had 16 pages on stoppage, and  nothing could be done on that. This was a gimmick.” 

The minister said he has gone through the previous Budgets, which were full of such announcements. He stressed that the ministry’s aim was to implement and achieve every possible announcement made by him in the Budget speech.