Reforms in rail cargo under-way: Suresh Prabhu

The Ministry of Railways has lined up a slew of reforms in the cargo segment, according to Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Railways.

Speaking after flagging off two new trains, Gulbarga-Hyderabad Intercity Express and Mumbai LTT-Kazipet Tadoba Express, here on Monday, the minister said though two/thirds of earnings of Railways come from freight traffic, the segment was neglected.

The ministry was now taking up reforms such as time-tabled cargo services, Prabhu said.

Referring to other focus areas, the minister said provision of passenger amenities like lifts, escalators, retiring rooms, dormitories, improvement of lighting at stations were top priorities.

Efforts were also on to reduce expenditure on power. ``Indian Railways, which is a big consumer of electricity, is on energy saving mission,’’ he said,

In order to minimise the consumption of power, Railways was tapping renewable energy sources, illuminating the stations through LED lighting, practice of prudent energy audit methods in a big way. ``Due to these Railways has saved Rs 3,500 crore on power, the minister added.

Railways will be setting up two new time-bound green field terminals at Cherlapalli and Nagulapalli with the cooperation of Telangana State Government.

The possibility of providing rail connectivity to Shamshabad Airport from Umdanagar through underground rail network be dealt by discussing with the State Government, he added.