Konkan Railway Not to Merge with Indian Railways
from daijiworld's special correspondent in Goa
Panaji, Oct 2: The union ministry of railways have ruled out possible merger of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with Indian Railways, at least for the time being.
"The agreement with shareholders has been extended till KRCL's debt liabilities are discharged" union minister of state for railways, R Velu, told reporters in south Goa on Monday.
It was expected that with KRCL's agreement with the shareholders expiring this December, the KRCL may be merged with the Indian Railways. KRCL has states of Goa, Karnataka and Kerala as its shareholders.
"After the extension of agreement, there is huge financial restructuring in KRCL in the pipeline," Anurag Mishra, managing director, KRCL stated adding,``the corporation has debt liability of Rs 5,600 crores."
When asked, Mishra could not divulge the time frame within which the debt would be cleared. "Give us more traffic so that we can make more profits," the MD said.
He stated that KRCL is already running surplus for last two years. "Traffic is increasing and roll-on-roll-off (RORO) service is contributing for 10 per cent of the profit share," Mishra stated.
The RORO service, which carries trucks on specially designed wagons, has decided to modify its existing wagons so that more traffic could be accommodated. "We have asked for modified wagons and can go on all India basis once they are procured," Mishra said.
MORE RAILWAY NEWS
Increased vigilance in railway stations
Panaji: Indian railways will upgrade its surveillance technology across the country to ensure that the railway safety is not targeted by anti-social elements, R Velu, union minister of state for railways, stated.
"We have considered this as a vital aspect on security on trains. We are upgrading the technology by installing close circuit television (CCTV) cameras, sniffer dogs, X-ray machines and also educating people on security aspects," Velu, who was down in Goa to inaugurate international railway security conference, told reporters in Goa this afternoon.
He said that the IR will also upgrade its intelligence around sensitive railway stations.
The railway protection is manned by 64,000 railway protection force and 30,000 government railway police across the country, he said.
This force will also be educated about countering terrorist activities besides stressing on safety for women in the reserved compartments, the minister stated.
Replying to a question, the minister said that the ministry has not set up any deadline to install CCTV cameras but the process to identify vulnerable areas has begun.
"India's railway safety figures are best compared to rest of the world," V N Mathur, member, railway safety board, who was present for the press briefing along with the minister, said.
"Accidents have come down from 0.65 accidents per million train kilometers in 2001-02 to 0.23 in 2006-07 in 2006-07. We intend to bring it down to 0.23 by next year," Mathur said.
The ongoing international railway safety conference is entering in its 17th year and it is being held for the first time in India, the officials stated.
"Next year, it will be held in USA," union minister of state for railways Velu said.
He stated that special stress is laid on the railway safety in India with creation of special fund comprising of two-third allotment from general budget while one third by railways.
Anti-collision device to be installed
Panaji: After successful installation on north east frontier railways, the Konkan railway corporation limited (KRCL) is all set to install its anti collision device (ACD) on country's rest the routes by 2013, top level officials stated.
"ACD's pilot project on north east frontier railways between Katihar-Guwahati-Tinsukia section covering 1,700 route kms was declared as commissioned in June 2007 and now Indian railways have planned to extend it further on already surveyed routes," Ajaykumar Bhatt, chief signal and telecommunication engineer, stated.
Bhatt would be presenting his paper on ACD during the ongoing international railway safety conference in Goa which has representatives from 17 countries participating in it.
"We will begin with Ranigunta-Guntakal-Hubli-Vasco section on south central and south western railway covering 765 route kilometres. The work will be completed in next two years," Bhatt added.
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