Rail expansion and safety on parliamentary panel agenda

14 Oct 2024 CW Team

The parliamentary panel on railways has identified several key topics for discussion, including ""ensuring safety in Indian Rail operations,"" expanding the railway network in the North East and Union Territories, and developing a high-speed train network.

Led by BJP MP C M Ramesh, the 31-member committee will also address issues such as improving public facilities at railway stations, boosting freight earnings, developing dedicated freight corridors, enhancing the passenger reservation system, and promoting railway-based tourism, according to an official bulletin.

Safety has been a critical concern, with opposition parties citing recent accidents to claim the government is neglecting this vital issue. In response, the Railway Ministry has asserted that the overall accident rate has significantly decreased during the Modi administration.

The government's ambitious plan for high-speed trains, particularly between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, has encountered challenges, mainly related to land acquisition.

Additionally, the panel will investigate optimal use of railway land, human resource management, track and signaling upgrades, energy efficiency of onboard services, infrastructure projects in coastal areas, performance of production units and railway workshops, and efforts to make the railways self-reliant through innovation and local sourcing.

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