Rly budget merger is done with an intention that it will be an important step to depoliticize IR, but the way new trains are being introduced since last few months, casts doubt whether the depoliticization will really happen? If it happens then well and good. But if it does not happen, then it will results will be more disastrous
(1) It will result in even more lopsided resource allocation and development of railways in our country. At present due to debate and passage of Rly budget in parliament, RM is forced to give at-least something to all the states including his non-preferred ones.
(2) The...
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data released/ discussed during budget sessions may not be released before the public. IR shall lose whatever transparency it have now.
(3) Rail budget Parliamentary discussion puts pressure on IR to perform & fulfil developmental aspirations of different regions. After budget merger, If the RM is not dynamic, vigilant and task oriented, there will not be enough pressure on IR to perform and IRlys may die its natural death (gradually loose almost all of its traffic to competitors) much like the inland Water ways prevalent decades ago in major rivers like Ganga had. In that case the efficiently managed Roadways, airline operators shall be the biggest gainers and public/ nation the loser.