If the concerns over risking political capital are overcome, the long-term gains for the Indian economy will be immense, asserts A K Bhattacharya.
Enhancing the capacity of rolling stock including gauge conversion, doubling and laying new lines, acquisition of new coaches and wagons are some of the priorities the new ministry is expected to pursue. Keeping the terror threat perception in mind, the upgradation of security system at railway stations in major cities will be a focus area for the new government.
Last year, ICICI Lombard had bagged the offer, battling five other private players. This year's tenders will be opened on September 1, sources in the Railway Ministry said, adding that invitations have been sent to about 20 companies this time.
Passengers of Mumbai Rajdhani will get SMS alerts before arrival of their destinations during night hours with the railways launching the service on Wednesday.
Livid at being ignored for elections to put together a new federation on Sunday, two of Indian boxing's biggest stakeholders -- Railways and Services Sports Control Board -- have lodged a protest with the Sports Ministry. Neither Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) nor the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) will be a part of the election process to constitute the Boxing Federation of India even though they have a vote each.
A certain type of TGV, called V150, holds the world record for the highest speed on any national rail system. This record has been in place since April 2007.
The ministry of railways has projected a three-time increase in Plan size to Rs 7,19,677 crore (Rs 7,196.77 billion) for the five-year period.
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Many of the PPPs have not evinced interest, Prabhu said.
It was only a fortnight earlier that the Cabinet, in a press release, named five short-listed bidders for two projects to be implemented in Bihar. The railway ministry had proposed to set up joint venture companies to develop the factories, with an equity stake of 26 per cent in these.
Service tax waived for online train ticket booking till Dec 31
To begin with, the service will be available in 30 places across the country. The postal department would issue railway tickets through the computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters provided by the railway ministry.
According to a privilege extended to lawmakers by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, MPs can now sponsor the construction of the railway stations from his/her annual budget of Rs 5 crore and etch his name for perpetuity on a steel or metal plaque.
'Making the railways better is a different type of a challenge.'
The Centre received 5.59 lakh public grievances against various government departments in the first half of this year, with the Department of Financial Services (DFS) getting most of such complaints, according to an official report.
The government on Tuesday decided to set up a committee of secretaries to fast-track implementation of infrastructure projects along the border with China.
Railtel has entered into an agreement with US-based Pronto Services, which will create facilities at 50 railway stations through Wi-Max technology.
Senior citizens, differently-abled, pregnant women and medically sick travellers will be given a preference
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is expected to announce a slew of initiatives for select Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains in the coming rail budget, including access to on-board free Internet and Direct-to-Home (DTH) services.
As per existing provisions, senior citizens aged 60 years and above are eligible for concession in the basic fares of Mail and Express trains, and all inclusive fares of Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi trains.
The losses ranged between Rs 33,204 and Rs 10,90,480.
The FoBs were constructed by the Army Engineers in a record 117 days.
The railway ministry has decided to sell a 20 per cent stake in RITES Ltd, an undertaking of the ministry which, among other activities, operates railway networks in some African countries, in an initial public offer.
The restriction has been imposed to prevent touts from cornering tickets.
Fares of AC First Class, Executive Class, AC-2 tier, AC-3 tier, AC Chair Car will go up by 3.708 per cent from October 1 and a notification to this effect will be issued on Thursday, a senior Railway Ministry official said.
In the wake of the growing funding constraint for additional infrastructure creation in the railway sector, Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday held discussions with the industry on options to make private participation in the sector attractive. "Addressing the coordination gaps between the rail ministry and the industry is important to increase investments in rail projects. This is very urgent," Banerjee said.
Sudheendhra Kulkarni, former political aide to senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, has joined a key committee of the Railway Ministry. Kulkarni, who dissociated himself from the BJP on Saturday citing ideological differences, on Wednesday, said that he had joined a committee appointed by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
As many as 21 cases of COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 have been detected across the country till now, NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul said on Wednesday but asserted that there was no need to panic.
The accident occurred around 5.45 pm near Khatauli town, 40 km off Muzaffarnagar, leaving 23 people dead, the Uttar Pradesh police said.
Rlys plan 50 garib raths, 450 AC trains; SPVs planned for wagon manufacture for freight corridors.
Incessant rains apparently caused cracks in the bridge, resulting in its collapse, an official said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said his party would conduct a "caste census" if elected to power as only such an exercise would ensure the "participation of OBCs, Dalits, tribals and women".
Minister of State for Railways, Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, on Friday resigned from his post in protest against the Union Cabinet's decision to go ahead with the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Indian Railways (IR) will transfer existing assets at nominal values, invite bids and grant concessions for 10-15 years.
This is expected to cut last-minute rush for reservations.
Rs 25 per bedroll kit will be collected as part of the fare at the time of issuance of ticket from the passengers, if they opt for bedroll.
West Bengal Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh said the police had found Pandrol clips (which tie the tracks) open along a 50-metre stretch at the accident spot and the blast theory was yet to be confirmed.
Not only the new-look coaches will carry more passengers with more comfort, plans are also underway with railway ministry revamping catering and other facilities on trains and stations to make them more tourist-friendly.
The Japanese and the French are the world leaders in high-speed train technology. While the Japanese are known for their superfast Bullet train, the French have high-speed trains under the TGV brand.
"Earlier, governments were busy in vote bank appeasement but we are busy satisfying people," the prime minister said.
