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Rail travel woes

A. Jacob Sahayam, Karigiri

This refers to `Rail travel to cost more' (Business Line, August 30). This time it has come as a surcharge to be collected and credited to the newly created non-lapsable Special Railway Safety Fund (SRSF). And there are indications that there may be an upward revision in passenger fares in the ensuing Rail Budget for 2002-03. Why a Rail Budget?

In this context, your editorial `Brutally frank (August 18) is relevant. It has cautioned against discarding the report of the Expert Group on Indian Railways headed by Mr Rakesh Mohan, which has called for a total revamp of the Railway Board, i ts corporatisation and insulation from government. The Railways may be able to increase its revenue by improving efficiency and by adopting dynamic methods. In fact, Corporatisation should be advantageous to the Railways, the employees, the Governm ent and the consumers too in the long run.

Any objection in this regard should be overcome through negotiations.

Due attention has to be paid to develop all the three modes of transport -- the Railways, Road and the Waterways. An element of competition among them could help the development of

all the three sectors.

And whenever there is any increase in any service

charge bus fare, electricity charges, railway fare,

water charge, there is opposition. Why cannot the Government consider some permanent solution by linking it to price index or inflation rate?