In an unprecedented pace of implementing announcements made in the Railway Budget 2015 -16, the Ministry of Railways has implemented 39 announcements ranging from passenger amenities system improvements to infrastructure development during the last two months.
A senior railway official said that immediately after the presentation of the Budget, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu directed Railway Board to put in place a sound mechanism to implement the budgetary announcements in a time bound manner. "The entire machinery of Indian Railways was geared up to implement the budgetary proposals," said the official.
Under the implementation strategy, comprehensive action plans were formulated on all Budget announcements with Prabhu and MoS Railways Manoj Sinha personally monitoring the implementation and undertaking periodical review.
"The monitoring and periodical reviews are also being undertaken at Railway Board level, Zonal Railway level and Railway Division level. To ensure effective and efficient online monitoring, the Ministry also developed a special web based software E-Samiksha," added the official.
A top railway official said that though only 36 days have passed in the current financial year 2015-16, 39 announcements have so far been implemented which includes addressing the issue of cleanliness in a more integrated and coordinated manner, passenger Helpline 138 & Security Helpline 182 and roping in NIFT for designing the bedrolls.
While the passenger helpline work as an interface for queries/complaints related to medical emergency, cleanliness, food & catering, coach maintenance, linen etc, the Security Helpline report any unsavoury incidents. This service is very important public service and may play an important role in emergencies like crime against women, onboard unlawful activity, train accidents, medical attention required and fire etc.
Other major initiative announced in the budget was to boost the railway infrastructure by getting funds from lIC for which the ministry signed the MoU for a massive amount of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. The budget also had announced a Kayakalp Council for complete transformation of the national transporter for the Ministry announced the name of industrialist Ratan Tata to head the council.
Taking further the Budget proposals, a MoU for a Research Centre for Railways at Mumbai University and a significant MoU with other stakeholders including the Union Coal Ministry for signed to facilitate easy coal transportation in Jharkhand.