The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Parliamentary panel opposes privatisation of Railways

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Saturday, Jul 07, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Parliamentary panel opposes privatisation of Railways

Crucial deliberations: MP and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Railways Basudeb Acharia (far left) at the SCR Division meeting in Hyderabad on Friday. Standing behind is H.K. Padhee, SCR General Manager.

HYDERABAD: Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways Basudeb Acharia on Friday opposed privatisation or outsourcing of any activity in the Railways and wanted the catering service to be treated as a passenger amenity, instead of commercial activity.

Addressing a press conference after a meeting with South Central Railway (SCR) officials here, he said: We don’t want any of these activities to be privatised or outsourced. He said the railways have 67 workshops and can manufacture the required equipment. Mr. Acharia expressed concern that the total staff strength in the Railways had been reduced by 1.52 lakh since 1998 when it was 15.85 lakh. A large number of vacancies, including 85,000 belonging to the safety category, are not filled. As a result of a standing order from the Ministry of Personnel and Training, asking the Railways to surrender two posts for every filled vacancy, there is a shortage of 35 per cent to 40 per cent.

Shortage of drivers

The shortage is also forcing drivers to work for 13 to 16 hours. The same is the situation with the operating staff.

The standing committee’s recommendation made a year ago that no safety category post should be surrendered and all vacancies should be filled in six months is not being implemented, he said.

Though the Railways have posted growth in both passenger and freight traffic last year, its expansion is not taking place to the extent required. While the passenger traffic is 60 million, the freight is 730 million tonnes.

The average speed of freight trade is 24 km and 26 km in respect of passengers, which is very low. Due to neglect of the system, track renewals and modernisation of signals is not being taken up.

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