If the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government swept to power on the back of a promise of ushering in Achche din (better days) for the masses, the railway budget on Thursday should be a perfect time to make a start.
If the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government swept to power on the back of a promise of ushering in Achche din (better days) for the masses, the railway budget on Thursday should be a perfect time to make a start.
The need of the hour, according to a large number of railway officials dna spoke to, is to come up with a budget that doesn't get away with some cosmetic announcements but one that lays down a mechanism which will work for the city's railway system for the next decade.
What is the first priority?
"The morning and evening peak-hour commute is possibly among the most excruciatingly painful train journey in the world. An announcement of 50 or 60 new services for the city means nothing. Chances are these services will be started during off-peak time. What we need is a mechanism where the number of services during morning and evening peak hours is doubled," said an official.
What's the passenger growth?
According to WR figures, the average number of passengers per coach has reduced from 287 in 2007 to 227 in 2014 – a reduction by 21%. This is because the carrying capacity of trains has increased by 42% from 2007. Yet, the passenger increase has been 12.65%. Services during peak hours -- the time when Mumbai's trains are among the most crowded in the world -- have also increased since 2007.
What do these figures mean?
The above figures can be misleading, say officials. Because while this average is calculated keeping in mind the whole day, the problem for the commuter is that his commute during morning and evening hours is such that the coaches have almost 500 people in them.
What is super dense crush load?
The number of passengers crammed into a coach during peak hours, called the super dense crush load, is 16 commuters per square metre. This means any reduction in crowd isn't tangible to the average traveller. "Let us look at it this way. In a coach meant for 200, if 500 are travelling, a reduction of 50 persons cannot be felt by the 450 inside the coach. It can only be felt if the coach has say 250 people and the crowd reduces by 20 or 30 people. You should either double capacity of trains during morning rush hours, which is not possible without extra tracks, or you stagger the office timings," said a senior railway official.
What about air-conditioned locals?
The plan was first announced in the railway budget for 2012-13. The railway ministry, under the UPA government in early 2014, had announced that it would be commissioned by July 2014. The latest is that it would miss financial year 2014-15 as well.
Will it happen this time?
"This budget should lay down a comprehensive road map for AC locals. A certain percentage of services should be converted into AC ones starting this financial year. The plan to build 10 AC rakes for Mumbai -- including one expected to arrive by July-- should be expedited, and, by next year, at least 10% services in the city should be AC ones," said the official.
But what about money?
According to a top railway official, the suburban system needs around Rs 2,000 crore every year for 20 years to actually raise its standard of service. "Now this money has to come up from commercial development of land, season passes, and maybe cess or taxes from local bodies. The budget should create a new revenue mechanism. Expecting Mumbai to sustain its suburban system from ticket sales is futile," said the official.
Are there any long-term planning?
"Now is the time to think of new suburban as well as long-distance coaching terminals in Mumbai and surrounding areas. Mumbai Central and Bandra termini will be saturated in another decade. Making a new terminal at Mira Road or Vasai will cost several hundred crores of rupees and will take at least a decade. The time to begin is this budget and the best way is to begin groundwork on it is this financial year itself," said an official.
What about Phase 3 of MUTP?
Railway officials said in case the Rs 11,441-crore phase 3 of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project is included in the railway budget, the mechanism to get it off the ground should also be announced. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu had, during a press interaction in January, spoken about how he and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had agreed for a standing committee of all authorities for integrated transport solutions for Mumbai.
How many agencies are involved?
The BMC, police, RTO and others. Prabhu had said in January he had written a letter to all chief ministers to establish a special purpose vehicle for railway-related projects. He said states can prioritise projects. "Hope the railway budget lays down this mechanism for MUTP phase 3," said the official.
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