Rail Min implements 39 Budget proposals

In an unprecedented pace of meeting promises made in the Railway Budget 2015-16, the Ministry of Railways has already implemented 39 announcements -- ranging from passenger amenities system improvements to infrastructure development.

Immediately after the presentation of the Budget, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu directed the Railway Board to put in place a mechanism to implement the budgetary announcements in a time-bound way. The entire machinery of the Indian Railways is geared up to implement the budgetary proposals.

“Under the implementation strategy, comprehensive action plans were formulated on all budget announcements. Both the ministers -- Suresh Prabhu and Manoj Sinha (MoS) -- have been personally monitoring the implementation and undertaking periodical review,” an release from the ministry said, adding that the monitoring and periodical reviews are also being undertaken at Railway Board, zonal railway and railway division levels.

The note added, “To ensure effective and efficient online monitoring, the Ministry of Railways has developed a software, e-Samiksha.” The software tracks and monitors initiatives including projects and schemes.

“The Ministry of Railway is next only to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Human Resource Development to have this kind of online monitoring mechanism,” the note added.

The ministry also listed as achievements inauguration of a perishable cargo centre, instructions to Ticket Examiners to help senior citizens get lower berths, identification of trains for increasing number of coaches from 24 to 26, instructions issued for providing mobile charging facilities in general coaches, on-board entertainment started at Kalka Shatabdi, introduction of e-catering service and online booking of retiring rooms. The ministry has created a new department for housekeeping, which will address the issue of cleanliness in a more integrated and coordinated manner. Also, on the lines of Swachh Bharat Mission, it has started disposable bags for garbage disposal as a pilot project in the Mumbai-Amritsar Punjab mail.

The ministry has made it mandatory that after May 1, all new non-AC coaches being manufactured in ICF would have dustbins. NIFT, Delhi, has been roped in to design bedroll, etc, the release said. “Three new mechanised laundries have been started at Kochiveli, Malda town and Santragachhi to supply clean linen taking the total of such laundries to 33. Twenty-nine more locations have been identified. Passenger and security helplines 138 and 182, respectively, are already functional. Also, an application and a portal to redress railway-related complaints have been developed, making the online tracking of complaints possible,” the release said.