9:36 AM
Railway finances in ‘deep trouble’: Suresh Prabhu
NEW
DELHI: Railway finances are in "deep trouble", according to railway
minister Suresh Prabhu who observed on Sunday that the government
behemoth has been caught in a "vicious circle" of poor investments
compromising its services.
Pitching for increased investment into the railways, he said pension fund could be one of the possible means of pumping in the money into the largest government transporter which is facing losses to the tune of thousands of crores.
Prabhu said the railways can become an engine of growth in the coming years and contribute 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent in the GDP with an improved infrastructure.
However, the railway finances are in "deep trouble", the minister said addressing The Economic Times Global Business Summit here.
READ ALSO: In a first, railways invite FDI for CST-Panvel hi-speed route
While underlining that railways requires huge investments to expand its network to provide physical connectivity, he said 30 to 40,000km of lines need to be expanded to carry more cargo besides people.
He regretted that India does not have the required institutions to invest in such sectors.
A goods train carrying containers for shipping near Navi Mumbai. Suresh Prabhu said 30 to 40,000km of lines need to be expanded to carry more cargo besides people.
Pension fund, he said, was one such possibility which could help pump investments.
Giving the example of Naxalite-hit areas, Prabhu said besides carrying security personnel, a better railway infrastructure could bring more investments in such places and create job opportunities.
READ ALSO: Railway unions soften stand on FDI after Modi's assurance
Successive governments have been of the view that jobs can wean away youth from Naxalism and militancy.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim of taking the economy to $20 trillion from $2 trillion, he said policies which are ambitious and at the same time "doable" can help achieve the target.
Terming lack of physical infrastructure as a "road block", Prabhu said many things have to be put in order to achieve the desired growth levels.
He said after setting targets, there was a a need to put in place a strategy to achieve the objectives and the Modi government was working on it.
Pitching for increased investment into the railways, he said pension fund could be one of the possible means of pumping in the money into the largest government transporter which is facing losses to the tune of thousands of crores.
Prabhu said the railways can become an engine of growth in the coming years and contribute 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent in the GDP with an improved infrastructure.
However, the railway finances are in "deep trouble", the minister said addressing The Economic Times Global Business Summit here.
READ ALSO: In a first, railways invite FDI for CST-Panvel hi-speed route
While underlining that railways requires huge investments to expand its network to provide physical connectivity, he said 30 to 40,000km of lines need to be expanded to carry more cargo besides people.
He regretted that India does not have the required institutions to invest in such sectors.
A goods train carrying containers for shipping near Navi Mumbai. Suresh Prabhu said 30 to 40,000km of lines need to be expanded to carry more cargo besides people.
Pension fund, he said, was one such possibility which could help pump investments.
Giving the example of Naxalite-hit areas, Prabhu said besides carrying security personnel, a better railway infrastructure could bring more investments in such places and create job opportunities.
READ ALSO: Railway unions soften stand on FDI after Modi's assurance
Successive governments have been of the view that jobs can wean away youth from Naxalism and militancy.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim of taking the economy to $20 trillion from $2 trillion, he said policies which are ambitious and at the same time "doable" can help achieve the target.
Terming lack of physical infrastructure as a "road block", Prabhu said many things have to be put in order to achieve the desired growth levels.
He said after setting targets, there was a a need to put in place a strategy to achieve the objectives and the Modi government was working on it.
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