Indian Railway budget has been a prehistoric event- creating a narrow passage for its expected modernization and, even privatization each year. Since 1924, we have witnessed this annual affair with intense anticipation. For, it was indeed one of the primary industrial corridors of growth in the Indian economy.
However, the momentum for the India Railways, still one of the busiest, has been slow in its track. Over the years, the Indian economy has matured; with new industrial landscape having emerged. Manufacturing, for example, has gained precedence over the years. Even the Defense budget allocation is viewed as a strong indicator of an economy’s self-reliance. Given the scenario, how do we justify the need for a separate railway budget, which now constitutes only a fraction of this industry growth story?
There are plenty of reasons, which define the annual budget ceremony to continue still. After all, no major turnaround of the massively spread rail network has happened in India yet. Interestingly, we were ahead of China concerning the length of our network. However, now we are trying to follow the model of modernization of railways in China; which is not just larger, but also superior in the context of quality of services delivered.
More specifically, our government has set its line of expectation, with various debates over how to deliver more to the passengers. Then, the railways sector also employs a large workforce, which gives it an added weight-age.
Still, not many people will be aware that the Railways do not need approval (in principal) from the parliament, to implement its act of goodness. The railway act gives pompous enough to the authorities to make good their cause. Add to it the importance of sectors like defense; shouldn’t there be a larger debate over the issue?
At the moment, the calculation seems simple. India’s dependence on its rail network and the heightened expectation each year- can only be satisfied by making it all exclusive. More needs to be delivered- is the ultimatum.
