A Bold Act

(Image taken from times of india)

It was the most unusual event that Indian politics witnessed yesterday. Usually on any kind of reforms or bill or budget introduced by ruling party, it is the work of opposition parties to reject or oppose, mostly without any real intent or motive and for the sack of opposing it. But what appears to be an unprecedented event, that a railway minister, from the major and important ally TMC, presents the rail budget, which is backed by major ruling party congress and PM himself, faces tremendous opposition by his own party TMC. The main reason for the opposition was the fare hike in the railway budget, which was first time in last 9 years.

The railway budget introduced by railway minister Dinesh Trivedi is a bold, reformative and welcoming budget. Fare hike is not the only unusual thing in this budget. The importance given to the cleanliness, hygiene and safety is really a welcoming and long due. Here are the some points in favor of this budget.

First, cleanliness, if you go to any of the railway station in india, what you will surely find is lots of waste on the track and even on platform. And the sad factor is that people have accepted that and they are used to that. The amount of people uses the railway as their travelling medium is quite enormous. Looking at the number of people uses the railway and also keeping in mind the manners of people regarding cleanliness, it is really difficult and resource consuming task to keep railway stations and trains neat and clean. It is really good to see that this issue is addressed in budget and it is promised to bring cleanliness to sufficient level. By setting up special house keeping body and replacing the open discharge toilet with green toilet as mentioned in budget is quite welcoming step in this direction.

Second, the another issue relating to cleanliness is hygiene. Again similar to cleanliness, hygiene is something that is ignored by vast majority of people in India. And in railway the standard for hygiene is not anywhere close to even acceptable if not good. You will seldom find rats and insects roaming in the railway canteen and pantry and even in railway coaches. By setting up special body for this and giving contracts to professional will certainly improve the hygiene, which is much needed.

Third, it is really important to change the general perception of railway in India. Railway is mostly associate with poor people in India and that has led to undermining the need to develop the railway station and railway as per international standards. Though it is true that railway is like life line for travelling for poor and middle class, a certain level of development and modernisation of at least major stations is definitely needed. Introduction of Indian Railways Stations Development Corporation is a welcoming step in that direction, which is aimed at maintaining around 100 major railway stations like airport.

Fourth, another major problem, Indian railway facing for quite long, is safety. Frequent derailment and unmanned railway crossing has been the major issue for railway safety. Also delay in implementing advance technologies like collision prevention device is another hurdle for the safety. This time safety has been given importance it need for long. Enough money on the safety has been allocated keeping in the view of Kakodkar committee report. Proposal to set up an independent Railway Safety Authority as a statutory body and zero tolerance approach is welcoming step for Indian railway future, if implemented well.

Fifth, this budget introduces a deliberate attempt to increase the feel good factor for common man. New passenger services includes escalators at major stations, alternative train accommodation for wait-listed passengers, laundry services, AC lounges, coin/currency operated ticket vending machines, introduction of regional cuisines and implementation on-board passenger displays indicating the next halt station and the expected arrival time. All the above facilities will help attract more and more people to choose railway as the medium for travelling and that in turn will generate better revenue.

Now if we analyse fare hikes, it is necessary and justified for several reasons.

First, To provide above stated facilities and services Indian Railway needs money. Now, Indian Railway doesn't have piles of money nor it posses any sort of money tree. As it's widely known that Indian Railway is in bad economic state. One of the way to generate more money is to generate more income and the only way to generate income is to hike the fare.

Second, it is the first time in the last 9 years that the fare is hiked. Now during last 9 years diesel price has been increased to almost double so electricity. That has only helped to decrease money from railway's pocket. The hike was necessary keeping in mind the price for fuel.

Third, in last nine years the growth has accelerated in India, and that has lead to growth in income for every Indian. Even a labor that was earning between 25 - 100 rupees per day 9 years ago, now earns 75 - 250 rupees per day. Around same ratio of increment in income applies to middle class and upper middle class. It is only unfair if railway is deprived of these money from the increment they get.

Forth, the fare price hike is also very well distribute. While the person travelling in AC I - tier, who usually comes to railway station in his own car, will pay extra 30 paise per kilometer, a person travelling in passenger train will only pay extra 2 paise per km. This is as much low as it can get.

The shadow over such good looking budget is, the head of TMC, Mamata Banerjee. Also known as "didi", her approach after the introduction of railway budget, by her own party member, has been totally negative for the proposed fare hike. In attempt to save her image as pro people leader, she has already asked for a rollback in the hike to the government. Looking at the importance to her party for the UPA to stay on board, it seems very unlikely that government will show courage to defy her. Rolling back of fare hike will impact the overall economic scenario in the budget and there will be no hope that the proposed reforms will be carried out without the fare hike.

Overall it is a really good, forward looking budget and a brave attempt by Dinesh Trivedi. Also a much needed brave attempt by UPA government, which has almost forgot to take such reformative and bold steps from so long. If the government can stand firm on it, which is very unlikely looking at the current political scenario, it will be a real step for betterment of Indian Railway.