Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday said future railway recruitment examinations will be conducted online in a transparent manner so that people are not deceived. The social cost borne by the railways alone should be distributed to the entire government. “The decision was taken after the first few days in office to bring in transparency, more accountability to people and motivating our employees”, he said. The railways is entering into new power purchase agreements and is also changing its transmission network. “Because of neglect over several years, Railways is suffering”, he said.
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Prabhu said companies like Coal India and Steel Authority of India are looking for evacuation facilities which the Indian Railways can execute. At least 400 stations would be developed into A and A+ categories. At least 17 states could be stakeholders in the development of the railways. Prabhu said the Railways was trying to sort out the “unique problem” of procurement of wagons caused by a very low bid at the tender for 8,509 wagons for 2015-16.
“Therefore, concerted efforts should be made and a comprehensive strategy adopted to reach our goal, that is, achieving inclusive growth coupled with elimination of poverty and corruption”, the minister said.
The present government is thinking in a bigger way and wants to rope in a number of state governments as stakeholders.
Addressing a special session of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minister said the Railways will invest an amount of 120 Billion US Dollars in the next 5 years for an all-round growth. He assured Banerjee that all ongoing railway projects would be completed on time, and that steps would be taken to improve railway connectivity with ports and tourist spots in West Bengal.
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“Two-thirds of the revenue comes from freight – of that 50 percent is coal and the rest 1/3 comes from fares”, Prabhu said.
