Indian Railways Budget Speech 2006 - 07
766
which is a historic achievement. In a competitive environment, one can be successful only by sharing the
benefits of reduction in per unit cost with customers. This is what we have done.
23. Sir, I am happy to inform the House that it has been decided to run 25 tonne axle load trains on two
routes, for the first time in the Indian sub-continent, in the coming year as a pilot project. These primarily
non-passenger routes are Dallirajhara to Bhilai and Daitari to Banspani. Next year, after taking stock, 23 and
22.3 tonne axle load trains will be introduced on important traffic routes, in a phased manner.
Simultaneously, over the next five years, the feeder routes to the new freight corridor will be strengthened to
make them fit for 25 tonne axle loads.
24. Sir, the changes made last year in the system of train examination have yielded positive results.
Taking this further, on certain identified routes the validity of brake power certificate for closed circuit rakes
has been increased from 6000 to 7500 km. With a view to increase the average lead of railway freight,
Preferential Traffic Schedule has been modified and it has been decided that freight booked for distances
beyond 800 kms. will be given priority within the class.
25. The development of terminals and execution of traffic facility works on the highest priority has been
taken up in order to reduce the wagon turn round time. Efforts have been made to introduce round the clock
working in major sidings and goods terminals and enable them to handle full rakes. Apart from this, the
system for wagon maintenance and freight train examination and also crew links and locomotives of trains
are being rationalized. In fact, the team-work, coordination and synergy of the various departments in the
Railways has enabled this historic achievement.
26. To maintain double digit growth in the coming year, these measures would be further intensified. To
ensure continued improvements in the wagon turn round time adequate fund allocation would be made to
terminal improvement and traffic facility works. Information technology as a management tool would be
extensively used in freight transportation, to enable a keen watch to be kept on the rakes, effective pipeline
management and terminal management.
27. In order to meet the rising demand of traffic, an increase of about 25% will be made in the wagon
manufacture next year. In addition to this, thousands of new wagons will be got manufactured and made
available for traffic through wagon investment scheme and new container train operators. It is expected that
the largest number of wagons will be manufactured in the year 2006-07 and a new milestone will be
established. Considering the pace of growth of our freight traffic, expansion of the production capacity of
wagons in the near future is essential. Similarly, it is proposed to increase the production of electric
locomotives by 17% and diesel locomotives by 5%. Production of high power locomotives is also being
increased to ensure optimum utilisation of line capacity.
Reduction of Losses in Passenger Business
28. Sir, we have succeeded in increasing profits in the freight segment by adopting the “increase
volumes- reduce unit costs” strategy. It has been decided to adopt the same strategy in the passenger
business too, and work towards cutting losses. It has been decided to cut down losses in the coaching
services by about Rs. 1000 cr in the coming year and by 50% in the next three years by increasing the
number of coaches and occupancy of trains, reducing travel time and reducing losses in the catering and
parcel segments.
29. Hon’ble Members have continuously been requesting to increase the speed and reduce the travel
time of popular passenger trains. Sir, the All-India railway timetable was first published in the year 1866 by
the “Bradshaw company”. The benefits of modern rolling stock, signaling and track structure, however, have
yet not been fully reflected in the existing timetable to increase the speed of passenger trains. Hence, I had
decided to re-work this all-India timetable de-novo, that is, with Zero base in the current year. This work is
proceeding on high priority and for this, computerized simulation techniques, as necessary, will be
employed. As a result of the review conducted so far, it has been decided to convert more than 200
mail/express trains to superfast mail/express category by increasing their speeds. With the preparation of a
new time table on zero base, the journey time of a majority of the Shatabdis, Rajdhanis will reduce and
certain Mail/Express trains is likely to decrease by up to four hours.
30. Sir, efforts are also being made to reduce the travel time of New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express in
two phases, by one hour in each, so that Howrah Rajdhani Express departs after office hours and reaches
Howrah before office time. Similar efforts are being made to reduce the travel time of all Rajdhani Expresses
including New Delhi-Patna Rajdhani.