The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Railways must reorient market strategy: experts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 05, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Railways must reorient market strategy: experts

Special Correspondent

Speakers at an ICF meet emphasise the importance of retaining its pre-eminent status

FRUITFUL INTERACTION: P. Raja Goundan (centre) General Manager, ICF, K.L. Chhabra (right), Chief Mechanical Engineer, ICF, and Arti Nanavati, Professor in Economics M. S. University, Baroda, at a seminar on `Passenger Transportation in India' in Chen nai on Tuesday. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: : The Railways have to reorient its marketing strategy if it is retain its pre-eminent status in the national transport infrastructure and regain its market share, speakers at a seminar `Passenger Transportation in India — prospects', organised by the Integral Coach Factory here said on Tuesday.

Presiding over the seminar, ICF General Manager P. Raja Goundan said the Railways could no longer take passengers for granted as travel preferences were changing. They were not ready to accept ordinary conventional coaches, which had zero intelligence. He said information could be provided in coaches such as arrival time at the next station, charging facilities for mobile phones and fire alarm gadgets. With the available technology and materials it was possible to manufacture aesthetically designed passenger-friendly informative coaches. Design of coaches should be world-class to match people's expectations.

The ICF was sensitive to the passengers' demands. For the first time it sent two coaches to the Maharashtra Rail Vikas Corporation to get passenger feedback. Suggestions would be suitably incorporated, he said.

Arti Nanavati, Professor of Economics, M.S. University, Baroda, said the future of Railways was uncertain if it did not improve its service quality. Cross subsidisation of passenger fare at the expense of freight fare should not be continued. No doubt it had a social obligation, but it should be clearly demarcated from commercial operations.

No clear objectives

She said the railways had there were no clear objectives for the railways and hence there was no accountability. With decreasing budgetary support, they had to depend on mobilising internal resources, which was not encouraging.

She suggested privatisation of the urban rail network, participative project funding, reduction in operating ratio, especially with respect to manpower, closing non-remunerative railway lines, leasing out railway premises for profitable activities for improving the finance.

Domestic tourism

Chandra Iyengar, Chairperson, Maharashtra Petrochemical, Mumbai, who was formerly Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, wanted the Railways to give thrust given to internal tourism.

While road transport should provide feeder services, the Railways should take care of long-distance passengers.

The Chief Mechanical engineer of ICF, K.L. Chhabra, said the opening of skies in the aviation sector and the on-going golden quadrilateral had led to stiff competition from both air as well as road sectors.

There was an urgent requirement for the Railways to re-orient itself to the evolving and dynamic scenario so that its share increased exponentially, he added.

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