Rail Budget: MPs flood rail ministry with suggestions

In the run up to the Rail Budget, the members of Parliament have flooded the Railways with numerous requests, including stoppages of trains in their constituencies. The Rail Budget may accept some of the demands, which include projects for new rail lines to connect their constituencies.

“A large number of requests of the MPs have been compiled, which could be accommodated in to the Rail Budget. They have placed demands to allow popular trains to stop in their constituencies. They have also demanded that new rail lines projects be taken up to connect their constituencies,” said a senior official of the Railway Board.

Incidentally, the Rail Projects worth Rs 2.5 crores or more are part of the Rail Budget, which though not being a part of the speech of the minister for railways, are mentioned in the document tabled in the Lok Sabha.

“There are all kinds of requests. Some want rail platforms be expanded, while some want inclusion of railway stations in their constituencies in the list of Adarsh (model) stations, which the Railways look for modernisation through public-private-partnership mode. Some have even requested the height of the platform be further enhanced,” added the official. The Railways has received a large number of requests from the MPs for new trains to connect their constituencies with popular destinations. “Though the Rail Budget had not announced any new trains last year, the MPs still are not disheartened. We have compiled their requests for new trains, and after a routine study of feasibility, some of them could be launched if they are found to be commercially viable,” said the official. The ministry had eliminated stoppages to allow trains to cover the normal distance in less time.

With the MPs raising demands for more and more stoppages, the Railways is worrying that its attempt to speed up trains may suffer. “The initiative in the Railways as had been seen recently is to cut down on stoppages, which prolong the travel time. But the request of the MPs can also not be ignored. So, we have to see how many of such requests can be accepted,” added the official.