Whither Goest Thou Railways?

The Indian Railways was the biggest earner to the central exchequer. During the early sixties and onwards the Railways were bringing massive wealth to the country from its efficient and systematic operations in all the departments synchronizing their efforts to maintain steady income through earnings from both Goods & Passenger fares. The operation ratio being heavy, Railways had to match its income with heavy expenses with a definite intention to support the central government with a Lion's share. Each departmental head had to strain every nerve to see that the overall performance of the Railways is maintained on an upward trend so that profit in each year is maintained at a high level.

The ministers in charge of the Indian Railways were also prompt in the policy decision of the Railway net work.Their close knit association with the Railway Board and the Zonal General managers,enabled them to work in unison with targeted projects of annual return. The passenger fares & goods tariff also were scrutinized every year before budget proposal so as to have overall efficiency in the railway transport system.

Of late there has been an "Overturning Moment" in the railway Planning and substantial reduction in the earning capacity of the Indian Railways were noticed during the past. The political will was lacking in bringing up the profit margin high and reducing the operation cost. No increase in the passenger fares & in transportation goods traffic for many years resulting in the rise of operating ratio. Such uncommitted approach has brought down the Railway's running efficiency resulting in almost a break-even level OR even LOSS.

MR. JAGJEEVAN RAM, when he was Minister of Railways once commented that " If the pilferage or theft in the Railways are checked we would have laid tracks on GOLDEN RAILS". That period was a glorious period for the Railways and the systematic growth brought in wealth in the railways for supporting the central government for distributing to the sister departments for their working expenses.

Since I was serving the Railways from 1956 to 1992, I could draw a line of progress from those days to my retirement in 1992 and thereafter.Unless we gear up our machinery and introduce methods to revitalize the Railway set up in its earning capacity, we may have a disastrous period ahead.

Mangalath Philip Abraham