Rail budget: Full of ideas, short on substance
July 09, 2014 11:30
Having effected increases amounting to 14.2 per cent in passenger fares and 6.5 per cent in freight tariff last month, Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda had very little to do in his maiden budget.
His presentation was full of ideas and policy formulations, but lacked concrete proposals or a vision or road map to take the Indian Railways forward.
What became clear even before the budget presentation was that the Railways was in poor financial health, and a course correction was imperative as the operating ratio was precarious.
In short, the Railways had to spend 94 paise for every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of just six paise. Read
His presentation was full of ideas and policy formulations, but lacked concrete proposals or a vision or road map to take the Indian Railways forward.
What became clear even before the budget presentation was that the Railways was in poor financial health, and a course correction was imperative as the operating ratio was precarious.
In short, the Railways had to spend 94 paise for every rupee earned, leaving a surplus of just six paise. Read
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