Once termed as the sickest industry, Railways had to undergo rapid innovations to come out of this trench, said Executive Director (Efficiency and Research) of Railway Board R K Bhatnagar.

He was delivering a talk on ‘Efficiency and Productivity-Indian Railways Model’ organised by Manipal University Department of Commercen here recently.

Mr Bhatnagar said that Railways today have emerged out of its worst situation of the late nineties. Rakesh Mohan Committee which was appointed to dig the reasons for the debacle recommended the privatisation of the whole industry, he added.

Road sector, pipelines and airlines offering a severe competition made it inevitable for Railways to take up improvement measures. Like wise frame cost clubbed with passenger friendly better services were made available. Various committees were formed that worked round the clock to come out of the crisis. When nobody was ready to accept the responsibility, the whole team had to unite and come out with the optimum best to deliver, Mr Bhatnagar explained.

Maintaining that the industry does not seize any autonomous status, he said that the earnings should be entitled to the Parliament. To revitalise the sector, the foremost task taken up was to maintain constant rates along with the upgradation of 2nd AC to 1st AC.  A policy frame work made it possible to maintain the competitive edge. In most of the places the Railways face lack of year round traffic which is another serious concern for the sector, he added.

Modern interlocking system, high locomotives, electrifying the system, increase in the number of platforms, expenditure in terms of fuel bill and wages were some of the measures that helped the industry to reach the improved phase today.

Industry is expecting Rs 81,000 crore revenue this current year and the recruitment has been cut off to the minimal followed by the introduction of IT in the areas of passenger information and reservation system, he added.