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`Safety high on my agenda,' trumpets Lalu

     New Delhi: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, it seems, is concentrating on issues like modernisation, safety, concession and reservation this time around. Expressing concern about the growing number of rail accidents, Lalu during his budget speech, announced the introduction of a world class anti-collision equipment to be installed in India. He claimed that the system would lead to decrease in the number of accidents taking place due to collisions. During his budget, the minister said, "safety is high on my agenda". The minister in an attempt to paint a world-class picture of the Indian Railways promised to turn the New Delhi railway station into a "modern, world-class railway station". He has also proposed a concession of 50 per cent to those farmers and milk producers going for national level training in the second class. Similar, concessions are also being given to different sections of the society for travelling with some conditions. Reception and inquiry offices of the railways are also proposed to be modernised. Reservation would be given to the oppressed and needy class for shops and kiosks on the railway stations. Trains on the long route would be cleaned at a mid-station to maintain sanitation. A new catering system with reservation is to be introduced. Reservation list would be updated every now and then. Railway hospitals would be modernised and reformed. A 350-km of rail will be electrified. 935-kms of tracks will be converted into broad guage. And the engine on load system will be developed more.

Railways: Paisa by paisa (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Indian Railways earned 62 paisa out of each rupee from freight charges, while it spent a paltry three paisa on railway safety. The department spent two paisa out of each rupee earned for the development of Railways, while spending the maximum amount of 30 paisa on paying wages and allowances to its staff while earning an equivalent amount from the movement of passengers across the country, informed the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, during his budget speech. Other sources of the department from where it earned include two paisa each from coaching and sundry avenues while four paisa came from miscellaneous heads. While on the expenditure head, fuel took away 17 paisa while 14 paisa were spent on catering to the pension fund. Seven paisa of the department went towards payment of lease charges and a same amount towards payment of dividend. Another six paisa was incurred towards depreciation reserve fund and five paise towards maintenance of stores besides miscellaneous expenses of nine paise during 2003-04.

IAF ferries fuel to snowbound J-K (Go To Top)

     Srinagar: The Indian Air Force has pressed into service its midair refuelling aircraft to transport fuel to Jammu and Kashmir, which is reeling under a heavy snowfall. The snow-bound region is facing a severe energy crunch as the roads have been blocked following the heaviest deluge of snow in over two decades. The blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar highway due to avalanches snapped all links to the Kashmir valley restricting food and fuel supplies to the region. The IL-78 aircraft is being used to carry petrol and kerosene to various airbases in Kashmir. "The Indian Oil Corporation has airlifted 40 metric tonnes of oil from Agra to Jammu and Kashmir. We are trying to transport the oil to every village of Jammu and Kashmir. The Air Force has helped us a lot and has provided a major contribution in delivering oil to this region. We will also undertake airlifting of petrol and diesel," Devi Singh Sharma, Divisional Manager of the Indian Oil Corporation, Jammu and Kashmir, said here on Saturday. The IAF has already rescued and airlifted about 20,000 locals and troops, following a spate of avalanches triggered by incessant snowfall. Military officials say they expect more poor weather in the coming days and have urged people living on high ground to move out before more snow falls. The army said that helicopters have dropped food and blankets to snowbound villages and to soldiers and civilians stranded on a mountain road that connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India.

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