Rail Budget 2016: My Opinions with Highlights

It was really a good ‪#‎RailBudget2016‬ which was passenger oriented. More focus on process strengthen and profitability of the organization. Happy to see the focus to generate 10-20% profit from non tariff sources in next 5 years. Now railway is acting as a profit center in monopoly market. Good to see their approach to make it profitable but government should not forget that they are working for the welfare of the citizen too and the silver lining was the unreserved category train and coaches. 

The connection between Mizorum and Assam (Lumding-Silchar) with broad gauge line was welcoming move. 

Now railway is also understanding the need of the nation in making logistic issue easier. Focusing on logistic parks and warehouses through terminal is welcome move. Time Tabled freight trains is also part of this strategy. But should consider the proper tracking of the parcel with their safety measures which is missing. Port connectivity to Nargol and Hazira under PPP is also the part of this strategy. 

Double-Decker Train for business people is good move too. 

Senior citizen got minister's attention this year. I hope they will get ticket easily now as the quota is increased by 50%. Railway is using the brain of young student through internship and all which will give them the exposure of the technology and operations. It will help to generate the innovative technology for the railway.

Targeting tourism is good move through new tourist circuit identification and cooperation with state governments (Aastha Circuit). Integrating the Local Cuisine is good move but need to see the implementation.

New Rail Coach factory, Engine Capacity Building, Rail Auto Hub, Power generation target (1000 MW through Solar in next 5 years), Electrification of 2000km target in next year, 2500 water vending machines, 1780 automatic ticket vending machines, World's first Bio-Vacuum toilets, E-Ticketing System enhancement from 2000 tickets/min to 7200/min, WiFi facility in 100 stations etc are the part of the process strengthening part. 

Establishing the Rail Technology University is also a welcome move by the Minister. Also 50 Cr. funds for the ‪#‎StartUps‬ for the railway employees's children is a small for good HR move. First time I heard something for the Coolies in railway.

My small suggestions can be followings:

Railway is having a great infrastructure which can be use for the various activities like Plantation along with tracks, Station Area fo Office Space for the start ups (suggested by Prof Anil Gupta Ji), Innovation through rural technology into Power Generation, Food, Hospitality, Cultural Interaction etc. For power generation, we can use the micro wind mills on trains. Railway can provide the market research, market testing areas to the people.

Overall it was a good move. Hats off to the Ministry of Railways - India and Shri Suresh Prabhu Ji for this budget.