BY APURVA RAI
INDIAN Railways, owned and operated by the Government
of India, is considered to be one of the largest networks in the world. The rail networks comprises 115,000 km of track
over a route of 67,312 km. It runs around 12,000 trains daily and has its own
locomotive and coach production facilities.
There are approximately 7,112 big and small railways stations in the country. Railways carries
an estimated 8.101 billion passengers annually which comes to over 22 million
passengers a day. It also carries around 2.8 million tons of freight every day.
Operation: Indian Railways runs trains which cover
almost the entire length and breadth of the country. Besides taking people from
one place to another within the country Railways also provides limited
international services to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. It uses four gauges,
the 1,676 mm broad gauge, the 1,435 mm standard gauge, the 1,000 mm metre gauge
and the two narrow gauges: 762 mm and 610 mm.
Revenue: The Railways posted earnings of Rs 1,57,880.5
during in 2014-15. However, increasing revenue continues to be the prime challenge
for this largest network as it faces stiff competition from low cost airlines
which steal away a good number of passengers every month.
History: Railways were first introduced to India in
the year 1853 covering a stretch of 21 kms from Mumbai to Thane. In 1951 the
systems were nationalised as one unit, the Indian Railways, becoming one of the
largest networks in the world.
In its efforts to increase revenue the Rail Ministry
asked general public to suggest ways to increase non-fare revenue. I posted
several suggestions which are listed below.
COMMERCE
1) Merchant Train:
When we can have merchant navy why can't we have merchant train. The entire
train is booked by a business house and goods transported by it. Railways can
levy premium price for such carriage trains.
2) Superfast Goods Train:
Just like superfast passenger trains there can be superfast goods trains with a
time table. Premium charges for transportation of goods.
3) Chartered Bogies:
If entire goods train is not sponsored or booked then at least few or several
bogies can be booked by a party. The price of carrying goods in Bogey Owned by
You (BOY) is definitely higher than normal charges. The booking party could be
made either by business house or a courier company.
PASSENGERS
4) Hotel Bookings:
Why only train reservations on IRCTC site? It will be useful if Railways could also hotels alongside the train ticket. The scheme may be implemented for state capitals and other tourist destinations initially because the passenger going there does not know where to stay. A list of hotels shall give the passenger the much needed peace of mind . Tie up with various hotels will allow passengers to book train ticket as well as
hotel room at the same time with the click of a button from the convenience of
their home. With each hotel booking in itys network the Railways gets its own share of profit. There may be
hotels of every kind-- economy to multi-starrers.
5) Railway cash cards:
Indian Railways can issue Cash Cards for which it may tie up with several
banks. These cards may be purchased from Railway stations or partners banks.
This will also go a long way in making transactions cashless. Just refill these
cards from bank or railway counters with an amount of your choice and get
tickets at anytime from anywhere in the country. The card holders should also
be entitled for 2% to 5% discount depending on the class they are travelling.
With pay-first, travel later system Railways can
generate hundreds of crores of money from the people.
With pay-first, travel later system Railways can
generate hundreds of crores of money from the people.
These cards will never lapse and shall be valid for
one year from last re-charge. The system works just like pre-paid mobile phone
network. While mobile phone companies do not offer discounts to customers who
pay firs and talk later, Railways gives it. One country, One Railways, One
card.
6) Chartered Tourism bogies:
Allow private tour operators carry passengers in a bogey which is fully booked
by them. The operator will have its own package and passengers. The route,
train and timings etc can be worked on with the railways. The entire responsibility
of carrying passengers, their boarding, lodging, sightseeing and other
facilities are to be looked after by the operators.
At the moment all tour operators take tourists by
air route but time is ripe to open train route as well. The entire package will
be worked out by them only and the Railways will get its share
of booking cost plus profit.
7) Limited Baggage:
There are passengers who travel with huge baggage causing difficulties to fellow
travelers. This often leads to minor arguments among them. Set the limit for
baggage with each berth. Extra baggage means the passenger has to book it at a price. This extra
baggage needs to be booked at nominal price and will be carried in separate
parcel carriage. Thus double income from single reservation for all such
passengers who have an extra baggage.
8) Merchandise: There are numerous shops and vendors at Railway stations. Why can't there be Railway Shops selling its merchandise like variety of key chains (some having engines, some bogies etc), battery-operated toy trains, toys, books, greeting cards with trains as theme, notebooks, notepads and other stationary with trains as motifs, paintings, caps and other decorative items.
8) Merchandise: There are numerous shops and vendors at Railway stations. Why can't there be Railway Shops selling its merchandise like variety of key chains (some having engines, some bogies etc), battery-operated toy trains, toys, books, greeting cards with trains as theme, notebooks, notepads and other stationary with trains as motifs, paintings, caps and other decorative items.
All these items could be procured by Railways and
sold on its own at its own price. But One India, One Price. This will also help
local/ regional artisans as most material should be procured from them only.
9) Paid Services:
a) Announcements:
Passenger bogies can have announcement system for coming stations. Give
contract to private parties and run the tape. The contract does not come for
free and the party pays for it.
b) Paid toilets so
that cleanliness and water supply is maintained. This will also stop misuse of
toilets. The contract may be given to a party on monthly basis which may be
renewed if services are satisfactory. We can have paid toilets in trains as well as railway stations.
10) Stop Freebies:
A job in Railways is supposed to be most lucrative because it offers lifetime
free travel, number of perks like free telephone, office car, office residence,
financial benefits and also a 'chance to make money' (Corruption is among the
highest in Railways). All 'sarkari suvidha' ultimately becomes a status
symbol because we have become habitual of travelling and eating for free. This
needs to be checked. Take pride in 'we pay for our travel, and buy our food'
just the way people are saying 'we don't take subsidy for LPG gas
connection'.
Limited freebies are good, tolerable and may be
respected. Think of those jobless people or underpaid people or poor who also
travel in trains and pay for it. In comparison to such people it is a shame for
all others who are well-placed, earning well and can afford to travel on their
own. Think about a jobless person paying for his travel and food but the one in good job with good earning travels and eats
for free.
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| Toy train to Simla chugging over a bridge. Pix: Apurva Rai |
This step will reduce financial burden on Railways
and will also generate extra revenue as those who have been travelling free
start paying now.
a: Limited Free Passes--
not more than three for individual travel and one for family in one year. All netas
including ministers, MPs and MLAs too get only three passes in a year and rest
of the journey is paid. However, nobody gets free food. Everyone has to buy it
just the way all other passengers-- rich or poor are doing. The feeling of free
food and free travel gives birth to a feeling of 'Being Special' and leads to
arrogance.
b: No free phones
unless it is urgent-- A large number of officials are entitled for telephones
with unlimited local and STD calling. Genuinely only 20% of them require it.
All other 'sarkari phone' is grossly misused, less by the employee and
more by their families. Instead by them a lump sum amount for phone but the
bill is to be borne by the employee.
c: No 'sarkari gaadi'
unless you are on a posting where it is genuinely required. At other places
office car is grossly misused by the families. Instead pay for monthly petrol
and let them come on their own. The idea is to stop misuse of 'sarkari
suvidha' and save crores of rupees annually. Everybody in the department knows
where and when a car is needed and where it is misused and used as status
symbol.
11) Paid Entertainmet:
A lot of people sit on the platforms for hours while waiting for their trains.
Make use of their idle time-- One floor of the Railway Station (at least in
every state capital and major tourist destinations) can have a theatre and
regular movie shows/ music/ play/ culture show held there, merchandise outlet,
gaming corner for children etc. This way the crowd at railway stations is
dismantled and Railways earn extra revenue from the idle time of passengers.
12) Railway Bonds:
Issue Bonds (may even be tax-free). When other govt institutions can bring
these bonds why can't Railways? To attract more investors a 2% discount on
train tickets may be offered to all such people who purchase bonds valued Rs
50,000/- and above. This will also encourage people to travel by train as more
and more are shifting to airtravel with heavily discounted tickets coming from
private airlines.
