With an aim to improve all aspects related to Railways, the Ministry of Railways has invited suggestions from the general public to increase its revenue and reduce expenditure. Suggestions have also been sought to reduce purchase cost of fuel and finding new avenue streams for the Railways.
A senior Railways official said that the aim of such an engagement is to help the Railways come closer to citizens and better understand challenges that they experience and ensure that most important areas from a citizen’s perspective find place in the Railways priorities. The written suggestion can be posted on its official website in not more than 1,000 words.
Cash-strapped Railways require Rs1.18 lakh crore for 359 ongoing projects. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has already held deliberations with industry bodies and chambers in the run up to the Railway Budget which is expected to be presented in the last week of February. Prabhu earlier this month invited suggestions from the public to make the forthcoming Budget citizen-oriented.
Suggestions have also been invited on introduction of new trains, extension of trains, augmentation of trains, frequency of trains, pantry cars and catering, railway lines, road over and under bridges, crime prevention, safe running of trains, disaster management among others.