In order to ensure the safety and security of trains and passengers, railway minister Mamata Banerjee, in her Budget, has offered two new trains and two new projects as a special package for states that ensure trouble-free train running for a whole year. An All-India security helpline has also been set up to facilitate passengers security and is all set to become operational this year.
During the course of her speech in Lok Sabha, Ms Banerjee said, “I am now making an offer that whichever state ensures trouble-free train running for the whole year, shall be given two new trains and two projects as a special package.”
Calling on all Indians to exercise discretion and restraint, when it comes to agitations, she said failure to do so would only result in inconvenience to the public and loss of revenue to the government.
Noting that incidences of bomb-blasts, sabotage, track-tampering etc. are on the rise, she rued the fact that railways was facing the wrath of extremists and anti-social elements, as it was a soft target.
Stating that law and order comes under the jurisdiction of the state governments, the railway minister pleaded helplessness in ensuring punctuality and efficiency. She regretted the fact that frequent “rail rokos”, apart from crippling operations and putting the passengers to hardship was also leading to a huge loss of revenue.
Reeling out statistics, she said there have been 115 instances of “rail rokos” between April and December 2010.
She added 1,500 passenger trains were cancelled, another 1,500 diverted over longer routes and more than 3,500 rescheduled due to disruptions.
With regard to the all- India security helpline, the minister said that a comprehensive bill has been drafted to empower the Railway Protection Force to handle passenger related offences and is likely to be placed before Parliament soon.