Suresh Prabhu promises new measures to revamp 'ailing' Railways

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu today said his ministry is focusing on upgrading facilities for passengers and is set to launch new initiatives that will overhaul the “ailing” Indian Railways.

Prabhu was speaking at the inauguration of five new infrastructure facilities at suburban Kanjurmarg railway station—a six-meter wide foot over bridge (FoB) with escalator, 8-meter wide home platform with shelter for 12 coach trains, 2.5-meter wide pathway with fencing, booking office of five windows on east side. The Minister inaugurated these facilities through remote control system from Dadar.

Terming these measures as the beginning of new reforms, Prabhu said, “We will see a number of new initiatives that are set to overhaul of the ailing Indian Railways. In the past 30 to 40 years, the Railways did not attract the investment as it should have considering the rise in the country’s population.”

The Railway Ministry is pushing hard to raise the comfort level of the passengers and in last two budgets, it received so much funds, which it had failed to get in the past, Prabhu said.

The launch of the passenger amenities at the Kanjurmarg station was the part of trespassing control project (to curb death on tracks), in which six suburban stations have been shortlisted for the upgradation of the infrastructure facilities. Other five stations are Dadar, Kurla, Thane, Thakurli and Kalyan.

Prabhu also said he had detailed discussion with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and with the co-ordination of the state government, his ministry was moving ahead with the integrated transportation system.