Now a day’s all transactions in railway system are computerized, any authorize person in the railway department can easily access all the data of passengers travelling on per day, per hour, per route basis. These data can be analyzed to build previous year scenarios and forecasting it for current year. But as it is always done, our honorable ministers will present only final amount
of last year’s railway budget in the session and conclude the statement of railways being in debt. On the rear end analysis, the railway department will put-forth an increase in fare for upcoming year as if it will improve the system. A common man usually take this as granted, thinking about growth of the country, in spite some will fight, do strikes etc. to change the decision or for reconsidering the fare amount, but all these will be calm down within 3-4 days with no major outcome. Even after some days, we the common people will forget the issue because as such we don’t have any other choices other than Indian railways. Beside all these concerns, in Rail Budget-2013 proposed by Rail Minister, he wants to increase the luxuries and amenities in coaches (mainly in AC Ist & IInd classes) like Wi-Fi facility, but they as usual forget about last year announcements (Rail Budget-2012). Ideally, they should first think in direction of fulfilling people minimum requirements.
Other major concern which always speaks loudly is reservation status. Whenever I travel by rail or visit the railway platforms, I see people rushing to the TT for getting confirmed seats. The count for wait list tickets is always more than the confirmed tickets or even the number of seats available. It’s not feasible to control population by simply advertising or public announcement taking just 1-2 years. It will definitely increase the awareness but you can’t see any abrupt decrements.
The current scenario says,
Average percentage population increased (year 2011) = 17.6% (Approximate increase by 181 million)
(Source- NDTV India- Census 2011)
Average count of new trains started every year = 120-130
Why can’t our government interpret the common people problems from these dramatic previous year analysis? Or is it like they oversee all these situations and do not want to react because they all have comfortable travel options, their families travel either in AC Ist & IInd class or by flight.
They are planning to provide Wi-Fi network in AC Ist & IInd class coaches, but can anybody from the panel of Indian Railway authority assure that more than 50-60% power plugs are in working condition, or more than 80-90% night bulbs are in working condition, or more than 70-80% fans (mainly in sleeper & general coaches) are working. These are some of the very basic requirements. I cannot write all in here otherwise it will cover the whole post but still, no-one raised their hand in committee meetings of Indian Railway, but contrary most of them voted in favor of Wi-Fi proposal.
Some mind blowing facts which are still beyond my understanding level till now:
- People have either confirmed tickets or waitlist tickets, but both have to pay the same amount for different kind of treatments. Once journey started people having confirmed tickets behave like audience, wait list people like slave or pets and respectable TTEs are like Ring Master in the circus. People pay full money for wait list tickets and even now cancellation charges are increased. They pay full amount in belief of God, luck, chances for extra coaches, or most importantly if confirmed ticket person changes their mind for journey. It all looks like Stock market where even after all technical and fundamental analysis, we cannot predict and assure bull or bear.
- Indian Railways took very good initiative with CIRIS online ticket booking (www.irctc.co.in ) in the direction of reducing crowd in counter, convenience for professionals etc., but that too not fully featured and even they put different regulations for online and counter bookings. Mostly the tickets are in wait list, and if a person booked tickets via online system according to their convenience or time constrains, that means he/she will be last in queue at the time of reservation chart preparation. Firstly they consider tatkal wait list tickets, and then counter wait list tickets, and also how could I forget the VIP quota for every district, then lastly online booked wait list tickets gets chance if anything left out from these.
- In every year’s rail budget, many new trains are announced as such for whole country but most of which either crosses rail minister’s home state or vote state. But, each year ends with words in paper and still hopes in common people. We won’t criticize some of the announcements completed so far like extension of stations, new local or passenger trains in state, rail food prices, fare increment etc., but what about the loop-holes still present. If rail authorities are not being able to complete their announcements or fulfill people requirements instantly, at least they can increase the coaches in busy routes or in most crowded trains. Why can’t they think in the direction of accommodating more people with available resources?
- Most important and interesting are general coaches who prove that population of India is really very huge; it smells like a Zoo, the crowds adjust like a fish market. Interesting pattern which works in these coaches are reserve your seat on the basis of first come first serve, priority to ladies and children or put some stuffs like hanky, bags etc. in seat but all took place in coach then and there itself. These are very common situations every time in almost all the trains. Why can’t be these coaches converted like local trains in Mumbai or metro trains in Delhi for short distance express trains and replace with double decked coaches in longer distance coaches?
I don’t think all these are impossible to manage or can’t be controlled; all we need is to focus on existing train and system. There are number of tools and techniques available to manage and optimize with existing number of trains and tracks. People from rail authorities should come out from their comfort zone to understand the situation and establish the proper system to manage all these.
Also, we have to think before saying “Largest Rail Network in world”.
