IR had been treated as a personal ‘Jagir’ of the incumbent Ministers

It was treated as a source of unimaginable riches..

It has also the sad distinction of having been a ‘Malaidar’ Ministry.

Ashok Kumar Jain*

It has finally happened. Someone out there cares for the health and survival of the Indian Railways the lifeline of the nation. Since 1947, the Indian Railways had got raw deal from the policy makers. It had been treated as a personal ‘jagir’ of the incumbent Minister. It was treated as a source of unimaginable riches. It has also the sad distinction of having been a ‘malaidar’ ministry. The fundamental principle that any system, particularly a railway, needs continuous inputs to survive was consciously ignored. The very thought was lost in the greed of those in power. The Railways were used as a political milch cow. It was only during the first NDA regime that some oxygen was provided by way of special funds for rehabilitation but the political and financial exploitation continued unabated. A maverick was needed to change all this and give a direction and have a vision to make the railways function to simply contribute to the economy and meet the current demands for transportation.

This criminal neglect over more than six decades has resulted in this vital economic mover being on a ventilator today with continuing disastrous consequences for the national economy. The transportation costs of vital goods, basic to economic health, is being done at twice the cost because of inability of the national carrier to meets the growing demands of economy.

The successive governments had refused to recognize this result of their neglect and loot. A maverick was needed to change all this and give a direction and have a vision to make the railways function to simply contribute to the economy and meet the current demands for transportation. It has happened with Modi and Prabhu.

For the first time in history of Independent India the political perspective of the Railways has changed. And this budget has done it and done it in a scientific manner that gives confidence in the beneficial outcomes. For the first time structures are being promised have that will take care to infuse strength to the system and make it capable of sustained growth commiserate with the transportation demands of the industry, farmers and the public at large. Thus the railways can hope to be the engine of fascinating growth possibilities. The task is mammoth but can be accomplished.

The key takeaways from the Railway Budget are: planned investment of Rs. 8.5 lakh crores over the next five years; focus on passenger amenities with clarity; a plan to increase line capacities for achieving quantum growth in transportation capacities. This is new and gives hope that the railways and the Indian economy, long dependent on wasteful and woeful infrastructure. The required efficiencies and results are now well in sight. On the other hand travelling public has all the reasons to be happy. There is extraordinary focus on Passenger amenities and every aspect of railway/passenger interface is planned for change to make the passenger comfortable and cheerful. There is only one lacunae. The status of locomotive and rolling stock has not been defined.

The question now is that enough has been said and planned. The changed approach to the management of Railways itself is a giant leap in the right direction. But what now? The task at hand is to implement and deliver. The catch lies here. This indeed is going to be a herculean task.

History will tell that Indian Railways has been singularly blessed with a million failed dreams. While this aspect could not have been part of the budget, Mr. Prabhu will have to devote all his energies to address the vital issues this raises For this he will need to change the management ethos and ethics that prevail in the railways. Today, everything is for sale and this tradition dates back to decades. Corruption is rampant and vested interests will not allow change. Archaic accounting and financial systems will try to thwart every step forward. The task is cut out for Mr. Prabhu.

First and foremost he has to overcome the obstinate and obdurate officerdom and babudom in the railways. While one of the better functioning government organisations, it is also infested with unimaginable vested interests, laid back attitudes and plain and simple opposition to change. One has only to look at the fate of efforts to bring tangible changes in the eighties and the failed vision document made in 1985, to understand what NDA is up against.

The crux is how to finance the whale lot of super ideas.. The PPP model has failed to take off since the early nineties because of irrational and negative approaches of those involved. Anyone investing will expect a reasonable assured return on his investment. Fundamental, But tell this to the Babu in the Railway Board and get ready for amazing responses. Will the investor also provide the ‘oil money’ to move the wheels within wheels, a norm and tradition, Definetly no.

Most importantly the question needs to be asked. What is the dormant potential in the existing infrastructure? The performance can be easily enhance d by 15-20 percent by enforcing discipline and accountability. In the last nine months of the NDA nothing has changed. The attitudes are as negative as ever, the willingness to deliver totally absent and laid back attitudes as all pervading as ever. This has to change if the budget is to become a document that delivered. Doom lies beyond unless these negatives are addressed. Mr. Prabhu has to start at the top and refuse to accept any excuse for anything. Delivery and performance must be demanded and got. Non-performers should feel the heat. The entrenched vested interests of which a significant part of babudom is part of, has to be ruthlessly demolished without compassion. People stationed in the same town for years moved out summarily. This is one of the steps that the system is crying for, for years.

The Indian Railways is begging for action as envisaged so rightly by Mr. Prabhu and reflected in the budget. This is the need of the present and hope for the future. Let this historic opportunity be not lost by hesitant follow up and wrong choices in action. The movement forward must be with single minded focus on achieving the goals identified in the best budget that could happen. The people of India will brook no failure and not accept any excuses any more.

*Writer is a Former General Manager, Indian Railway.