In his first tenure, Goyal eliminated unmanned crossings and got the Vande Bharat express running but will now have to contend with delays in his pet bullet train project.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
Privatisation of the operational part of Indian Railways is simply not feasible. Peripheral services like catering can and should be privatised. One growing concern is the pension bill, staff costs more generally. It is making IR uncompetitive with road, pushing up the Operating Ratio to near 100. The asymmetry between passenger fares and freight tariffs is compounding the problem.
Privatisation of the operational part of Indian Railways is simply not feasible. Peripheral services like catering can and should be privatised. One growing concern is the pension bill, staff costs more generally. It is making IR uncompetitive with road, pushing up the Operating Ratio to near 100. The asymmetry between passenger fares and freight tariffs is compounding the problem.