Close to 21,000 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel will be recruited
Emphasising on the need for improving basic amenities and passengers’ security, Union Minister for Railways D.V. Sadananda Gowda maintained that the Railway Ministry would focus on the issues by taking up new initiatives and recruiting additional personnel.
Inspecting the premises of Tirupati railway station here Monday, Mr. Gowda said that the government would recruit close to 21,000 (17,000 men and 4,000 women) Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. “We have received several complaints from the passengers over the safety aspects in trains. Addressing such issues would be our main priority, apart from roping in new technology for minimising accidents,” he said.
Mr. Gowda further said though some regions have been accorded due importance in the past, for the development of railways, the future activities would be undertaken without favouritism to a specific region. “The railways, throughout the country, will be treated as a single unit and there will be no difference between zones and divisions,” he maintained.
Referring to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Railways, Mr. Gowda termed it as a necessity as the Ministry had been functioning with a meagre budget. “My predecessors have announced developmental projects to the tune of Rs. 5 lakh crore, whereas the income of railways is quite less. “Development will be taken forward by seeking assistance of private entities in building infrastructure, through FDI. The operations will, however, remain with the railways,” he said.
(The Hindu)
1 Comment
LETS HOPE THAT ITS HAPPENS THE WAY MR SADANANDAGOWDA HAS SAID AT TIRUPATI. THE NEED OF THE HOUR FOR THE PASSENGERS TRAVELLING BY RAILWAYS IS HYGEINE IN THE COMPARTMENTS., GOOD FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE TRAVELLING LONG DISTANCES AT AFFORDABLE PRICE., AND OF COURSE A GGOD SEAT FOR THEM TO ENJOY THEIR TRAVEL. THE SO CALLED FOAM SEATS AS BEEN DESCRIBED.,LACKS COMFORTNESS IN THEM. A HYGENIC TOILET AT ALL PLATFORMS IN THE RAILWAY STATIONS. FIX PRICES OF THE ITEMS BROUGHT INTO THE COMPARTMENTS BY THE CATERERS. THESE ARE THE BASIC THINGS PASSANGERS ARE LOOKING AT .,WHICH NO BODY HAS ADRESSED THE PROBLEMS SERIOUSLY NOR HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.