How can we improve Railway services?

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There have been several suggestions from many quarters about improving Railway services.  However, not much seems to have really been done.  Whatever improvements have happened, these have not been transformed into on-time performance, increasing the speed of trains and so on.  The food that is served at the Railway Stations is just not worth the money that is being charged.

While all this is a pathetic state of affairs, what can be done?

Can we partly privatize the Railways, like for example, outsource the maintenance of toilets and all fittings to private Corporates, and give them the right to advertise in the spaces available in reserved coaches?  Or may be, request that such a thing could be part of their Corporate Social Responsibility?

Maintenance of Railway Stations may be totally privatized, and the concerned parties may provide chairs, good drinking water, ensure cleanliness and so on. 

What are the other suggestions?  Please do chip in with your views. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yes, I have joined some online communities where they share agendas on improving railways- various aspects. But not much improvement can be seen. I think yes privatization is the need of the hour. Govt. has failed to cater to the needs of commuters, hence private companies should be encouraged to chip in and better the railways.

People and the government join hands sincerely. It's a joint venture. Any sluggishness in any of the two , nothing can be done.

Is it easy to privatize any service in this country? The employees of government departments will never let it happen. See the case of banks, the employees are one of the highest paid ones but still keep threatening government to go on long strikes and they chose days that gives them additional days to have paid fun  at the cost of public' tax. 

The stress should be on providing best services to poorer sections of society. Second class unreserved boges need to be increased and more facilities provided. Besides security and medical care are also of paramont importance. 

I travel frequently. I have observed all classes of passengers litter platforms at will.I have seen them dirty compartments without hesitation. Toilets are mercilessly dirtied even in Rajdhani trains. As a general rule passengers do not want to spend on quality food and services. They want best food at lowest price. Blaming rail authorities all the time is not fair. It is we who dirty,misuse and then sit in judgement. Yes privatization can improve but then passengers will have to shell out two to three rimes the present fare.

Unless, people join hands with the policies of the government , nothing substantial will happen. It  needs two hands to produce a clap.

vijay wrote:

I travel frequently. I have observed all classes of passengers litter platforms at will.I have seen them dirty compartments without hesitation. Toilets are mercilessly dirtied even in Rajdhani trains. As a general rule passengers do not want to spend on quality food and services. They want best food at lowest price. Blaming rail authorities all the time is not fair. It is we who dirty,misuse and then sit in judgement. Yes privatization can improve but then passengers will have to shell out two to three rimes the present fare.

 

That's true, people do dirty when they have the option and provision of using trash bins. I have also seen people stealing towels given in 2AC compartments...and then complaining the attendant of missing towels and what not. Even if we have best service, we need to value it and keep it clean. Hence, privatization is all the more required.

 

Even privatization will not serve the purpose, without people's active participation.

Indians value only when things are costly or there is fear of punishment. The same everywhere anytime spitting Indian  gulps it down in Singapore or USA or Dubai or even in Malaysia for fear of being caught and heavily fined. Privatization should be available as an alternative to those who can afford paying actual fares as many Indians are still very poor and thus need state run railways to cater for many years. 

Indians care for things when the virtues of the things are appreciated by foreigners. Till then the things are mere non entities. 

rambabu wrote:

Indians care for things when the virtues of the things are appreciated by foreigners. Till then the things are mere non entities. 

Absolutely sir. Usually we indians mostly dont realize the value of our resources. Only when something from the hands of foreigners we people listen to that. These attitude must change. Only then any kind of services can be implemented successfully. 

geetha wrote:
rambabu wrote:

Indians care for things when the virtues of the things are appreciated by foreigners. Till then the things are mere non entities. 

Absolutely sir. Usually we indians mostly dont realize the value of our resources. Only when something from the hands of foreigners we people listen to that. These attitude must change. Only then any kind of services can be implemented successfully. 

 

True. Anyhow this attitude is changing . People are realizing the virtues of our own things, but a lot more has to be done in this regard.

 

rambabu wrote:
geetha wrote:
rambabu wrote:

Indians care for things when the virtues of the things are appreciated by foreigners. Till then the things are mere non entities. 

Absolutely sir. Usually we indians mostly dont realize the value of our resources. Only when something from the hands of foreigners we people listen to that. These attitude must change. Only then any kind of services can be implemented successfully. 

 

True. Anyhow this attitude is changing . People are realizing the virtues of our own things, but a lot more has to be done in this regard.

 Yes. People are realizing our values and ethics. But it takes time to see the change, because i have seen people who are always cursing our indian systems and not willing to do any reforms regarding that. This attitude must change and people should come forward to involve themselves in such activities. Few people are taking initiatives regarding the issues happening. This will be a positive sign and things will turn out well soon.

 

geetha wrote:
rambabu wrote:
geetha wrote:
rambabu wrote:

Indians care for things when the virtues of the things are appreciated by foreigners. Till then the things are mere non entities. 

Absolutely sir. Usually we indians mostly dont realize the value of our resources. Only when something from the hands of foreigners we people listen to that. These attitude must change. Only then any kind of services can be implemented successfully. 

 

True. Anyhow this attitude is changing . People are realizing the virtues of our own things, but a lot more has to be done in this regard.

 Yes. People are realizing our values and ethics. But it takes time to see the change, because i have seen people who are always cursing our indian systems and not willing to do any reforms regarding that. This attitude must change and people should come forward to involve themselves in such activities. Few people are taking initiatives regarding the issues happening. This will be a positive sign and things will turn out well soon.

 

Let it take time. Generally people oppose anything that's a deviation from the existing pattern in the beginning, but later they resort to new changes. Glad a beginning is done.

 

 

Privatization will not give much benefits and it is not possible immediately to solve all issues without the person who worked on that area and knows about the demerits of the railway system.. People should co-operate with government. New coaches are not attached in many trains and building the coaches takes much time. Due to coach not available railway getting major loss. Chennai to New-Delhi trains are getting delayed by 5 to 11 hours due to expecting the previous day train arrival for its coach to be attached.

Any reform to succeed, people's active participation is a must. Only government alone cannot make the plans succeed. Railway reforms are not an exception.

Indians need other people to always monitor their activities and only then people will stop dirtying the railways within and outside.

Failure and inability to recognize the merits of Indian things is a big lapse in Indians.

Implementation of laws is very poor and this gives rise to breaking of laws with impunity.

That situation of non implementation of laws is already there. We lack the attitude of Questioning.

Topic Author

A

ABSIVAKUMAR

@sivacoimbatore

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Created Tuesday, 20 January 2015 04:15
Last Updated Tuesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
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