<p>The Railway Convention Committee in its latest report has observed that the budgetary provision made for the Railway Safety Fund has come down from Rs 1071.36 cr during 2009-10 to Rs 935 cr for the year 2010-11. In the 2011-12 budget estimate, Rs 1,043 cr has been earmarked for the safety fund in railways.<br /><br />The Railway Safety Fund was created for financing the works relating to conversion of unmanned level crossings and for construction of railway over-bridges and under-bridges to ensure safe travel.<br /><br />There are total 32,735 level crossings in the country out of which 14,896 are unmanned.<br />The 18-member committee headed by BJD MP Arjun Charan Sethi was of the opinion that reduction in budgetary allocation will hamper safety works in railways.<br /><br />The committee has noted that it would like to be apprised of the actual amount that would be appropriated to this fund at the end of the financial year 2011-12 as it is a vital aspect of railway where adequate funds have to be ensured. <br /><br />The committee finds that Railways have a huge backlog of ongoing newline projects and gauge conversion projects, while doubling of lines, traffic facilities, railway electrification and workshops are at various stages of pendency.<br /><br />"The inordinate delay in execution of most of these projects is a cause of concern as these became like the non-performing assets of the Railways. It has been stated that the Railways would require Rs 1,30,000 crore to complete these projects," the report said.<br /><br />Concerned over the law and order problems including Naxal menace, the report said the problems have also made a dent in the finance of the Railway Ministry.<br /><br />The panel has felt the need for higher gross budgetary support for timely completion of projects as also to meet the requirement of capacity augmentation in line with the growth in economy especially the ambitious dedicated freight corridors.<br /><br />Seeking reduction in working expenses, the committee has strongly recommended that railways should observe greater financial discipline and lay greater stress on the performance of railways for reducing their working expenses and project costs.<br />The parliamentary committee has also recommended that railways should not spread their scarce resources among projects and greater emphasis should be laid on prioritisation of projects.</p>
<p>The Railway Convention Committee in its latest report has observed that the budgetary provision made for the Railway Safety Fund has come down from Rs 1071.36 cr during 2009-10 to Rs 935 cr for the year 2010-11. In the 2011-12 budget estimate, Rs 1,043 cr has been earmarked for the safety fund in railways.<br /><br />The Railway Safety Fund was created for financing the works relating to conversion of unmanned level crossings and for construction of railway over-bridges and under-bridges to ensure safe travel.<br /><br />There are total 32,735 level crossings in the country out of which 14,896 are unmanned.<br />The 18-member committee headed by BJD MP Arjun Charan Sethi was of the opinion that reduction in budgetary allocation will hamper safety works in railways.<br /><br />The committee has noted that it would like to be apprised of the actual amount that would be appropriated to this fund at the end of the financial year 2011-12 as it is a vital aspect of railway where adequate funds have to be ensured. <br /><br />The committee finds that Railways have a huge backlog of ongoing newline projects and gauge conversion projects, while doubling of lines, traffic facilities, railway electrification and workshops are at various stages of pendency.<br /><br />"The inordinate delay in execution of most of these projects is a cause of concern as these became like the non-performing assets of the Railways. It has been stated that the Railways would require Rs 1,30,000 crore to complete these projects," the report said.<br /><br />Concerned over the law and order problems including Naxal menace, the report said the problems have also made a dent in the finance of the Railway Ministry.<br /><br />The panel has felt the need for higher gross budgetary support for timely completion of projects as also to meet the requirement of capacity augmentation in line with the growth in economy especially the ambitious dedicated freight corridors.<br /><br />Seeking reduction in working expenses, the committee has strongly recommended that railways should observe greater financial discipline and lay greater stress on the performance of railways for reducing their working expenses and project costs.<br />The parliamentary committee has also recommended that railways should not spread their scarce resources among projects and greater emphasis should be laid on prioritisation of projects.</p>