Former top officers all agree: Correct step, best option

Ashok Chawla

Bold move, much needed

Ashok Chawla
Former Financial Adviser & CAO, Railways

The plan to privatise some of the passenger services is a good step. It has been a losing proposition as fares cannot be increased. As a result, the Railways has been forced to manage with minimum of expenditure; there was no facelift of stations and passenger services were poor. Privatisation was considered often in the past and a number of options were thought of, but the bureaucracy was totally opposed.

Till the Modi government came, all the predecessors had retained the justification of a separate railway budget though the outlay of BHEL and ONGC had become greater. The merger of the Railway Budget meant that it became another department of the government and it could spend money.

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A person usually travels two to five times in a year and the amount of fuss and diversion of staff and officers was not worth the income. The trade unions are too powerful and officers can’t shunt the delinquent staff. In catering, there are too many leakages and contractors hardly earn anything.

The private company will also look after the fittings. Last time, TV screens were gouged out from seat-backs in two trains. But 100 per cent privatisation of the Railways is not possible. There are safety aspects which the government will like to have control over; besides, there are legal issues. There will be a railway staff economising of 10 to 20 per cent. This privatisation has been possible because of zealousness of the PM and Railway Minister. This government has demarcated certain areas which will be privatised.