Privatisation of Railways Privatisation of Railways Offbeat Does privatisation in Railways will prove to be a boon for Indian Railways? Mahima <html> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Privatisation of the Indian Railways has not only been a matter of debate since the colonial rule but it continues to be a matter of discussion even in the 21st Century. Indian Railways deserves a round of applause as it is serving one of the largest democratic countries on the earth. It has also received a lot of denunciation on not providing qualitative services. In order to make railways more reliable, free of intermediaries, government is planning to privatize the Indian Railways. Although, privatising is not that easy as railways cover every nook and corner of our nation. Privatisation of railways is seen as a step forward in enhancing the services for a pleasant journey. On the contrary, it has been argued that they might create private monopolies in which their main objective will be to maximise profit. There have been mixed opinions until now regarding the privatisation. The first-ever start of privatisation can be seen when recently, India’s first private train by IRCTC was flagged off on October 04, 2019 at Delhi-Lucknow corridor. Read onto the <a href="https://blog.trainman.in/blog/first-private-train/">First private train - Tejas Express</a> blog to know everything about first IRCTC run train. </p> <div class="admob-ads"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- Responsive Blog --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7159304429864193" data-ad-slot="5773289261" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> In this blog, we have listed some positive and negative sides of the privatisation of Indian Railways which will give you the insight to make an unbiased Judgement. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Pros of Privatisation of Railways</b><br> </p> <ul> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Enhanced infrastructure:</b> One of the strongest arguments in support of the privatisation is better infrastructure. It will give an end to some of the serious problems like stinking washrooms, poor sanitation, pickpocketing, thefts, poor quality of food, safekeeping around stations, etc. </p> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Less political interference:</b> With the coming of private investors in Indian Railways, there would be less of political intervention. In the current scenario majority of public-sector enterprises in India are working under political pressures. </p> <img class="replace-for-mobile" style="text-align: center;" src="/static/blog/images/piyush-goyal.jpg" alt="Piyush Goyal" width="100%"> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Lesser Mishaps:</b> Train accidents are very common in India. Any sort of train mishap is like a nightmare for the travellers as well as for railway authorities. If railways come under private ownership then there could be a less number of accidents. It will result in safe travel and higher monetary earnings over the long run. On top of it, it’ll build trust of people and it may gradually increase the number of passengers travelling through train. </p> <div class="admob-ads"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- Responsive Blog --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7159304429864193" data-ad-slot="5773289261" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Balancing the services with pricey tickets:</b> One of the frequent complaints by the travellers to the railway officials is that they are not able to provide satisfactory services even after paying humongous ticket prices. Those who are in favour of privatisation perceive that this issue will be resolved after the coming up of private players in the railway sector. </p> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Delay in trains:</b> Delay or rescheduling in arrival or departure of the train will soon become history in the Indian rail network if railways come in the hands of private operators. This move will stimulate the competition among operators and there would be fewer instances of delay of trains. In addition to this, it will also bring out some revolutionary changes in the rail network. </p> </li> </ul> <img class="replace-for-mobile" style="text-align: center;" src="/static/blog/images/train-delay.jpg" alt="Train Delay" width="100%"> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Cons of Privatisation of Railways</b><br> </p> <ul> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Hike in ticket fare:</b> As soon as the railways get into the hands of private enterprises, there would be a hike in the ticket prices. It is the only way by which private operators can earn maximum profit. </p> <div class="admob-ads"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- Responsive Blog --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7159304429864193" data-ad-slot="9989836060" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Unaffordable for poor people:</b> With the advent of privatisation, the purpose of railways to provide services to the entire population across the nation will get defeated as the poor sections of society will not be able to afford the ticket prices of trains. </p> <img class="replace-for-mobile" style="text-align: center;" src="/static/blog/images/travellers-waiting.jpg" alt="Travellers Waiting" width="100%"> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>No special provisions:</b> Indian Railways provide special provisions to women, old, disabled, defence, tourists, Yuva, etc. If railways get privatised then there might be a possibility that such provisions will not be given to the people. </p> <img class="replace-for-mobile" style="text-align: center;" src="/static/blog/images/quotas.jpg" alt="Quotas" width="100%"> <li> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Accessibility:</b> Indian Railways tries and connects even the remotest parts of India. It is making constant efforts to make it accessible to secluded places. In case, railways will be run by private operators then there are chances that it will not be running in the isolated areas as it will generate less profit from such areas. </p> </li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> <b>Final Verdict</b><br> Merely privatising Indian Railways will not solve the ongoing problems faced by railways. Perhaps, the current need is to find a way in which both government and private sector incorporates to maintain the legacy of Indian Railways. </p> <div class="admob-ads"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <!-- Responsive Blog --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7159304429864193" data-ad-slot="9989836060" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Do you think Railways should completely be handed over to the private operators? Tell us your opinions in the comments section below. That’s all folks!! Keep reading Trainman blog to get latest updates on railways and train travel. Book your train and flight tickets easily through Trainman app. Download the Trainman App and check <a href="https://www.trainman.in/pnr">PNR Status</a> of your booked ticket, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.trainman.trainmanandroidapp&hl=en_IN">Seat Availability</a> in any train, Train between the station and a lot more. </p> </html>

Privatisation of Railways

  •  35125 views · 
  • Oct. 23, 2019

Privatisation of the Indian Railways has not only been a matter of debate since the colonial rule but it continues to be a matter of discussion even in the 21st Century. Indian Railways deserves a round of applause as it is serving one of the largest democratic countries on the earth. It has also received a lot of denunciation on not providing qualitative services. In order to make railways more reliable, free of intermediaries, government is planning to privatize the Indian Railways. Although, privatising is not that easy as railways cover every nook and corner of our nation. Privatisation of railways is seen as a step forward in enhancing the services for a pleasant journey. On the contrary, it has been argued that they might create private monopolies in which their main objective will be to maximise profit. There have been mixed opinions until now regarding the privatisation. The first-ever start of privatisation can be seen when recently, India’s first private train by IRCTC was flagged off on October 04, 2019 at Delhi-Lucknow corridor. Read onto the First private train - Tejas Express blog to know everything about first IRCTC run train.

In this blog, we have listed some positive and negative sides of the privatisation of Indian Railways which will give you the insight to make an unbiased Judgement.

Pros of Privatisation of Railways

  • Enhanced infrastructure: One of the strongest arguments in support of the privatisation is better infrastructure. It will give an end to some of the serious problems like stinking washrooms, poor sanitation, pickpocketing, thefts, poor quality of food, safekeeping around stations, etc.

  • Less political interference: With the coming of private investors in Indian Railways, there would be less of political intervention. In the current scenario majority of public-sector enterprises in India are working under political pressures.

    Piyush Goyal

  • Lesser Mishaps: Train accidents are very common in India. Any sort of train mishap is like a nightmare for the travellers as well as for railway authorities. If railways come under private ownership then there could be a less number of accidents. It will result in safe travel and higher monetary earnings over the long run. On top of it, it’ll build trust of people and it may gradually increase the number of passengers travelling through train.

  • Balancing the services with pricey tickets: One of the frequent complaints by the travellers to the railway officials is that they are not able to provide satisfactory services even after paying humongous ticket prices. Those who are in favour of privatisation perceive that this issue will be resolved after the coming up of private players in the railway sector.

  • Delay in trains: Delay or rescheduling in arrival or departure of the train will soon become history in the Indian rail network if railways come in the hands of private operators. This move will stimulate the competition among operators and there would be fewer instances of delay of trains. In addition to this, it will also bring out some revolutionary changes in the rail network.

Train Delay

Cons of Privatisation of Railways

  • Hike in ticket fare: As soon as the railways get into the hands of private enterprises, there would be a hike in the ticket prices. It is the only way by which private operators can earn maximum profit.

  • Unaffordable for poor people: With the advent of privatisation, the purpose of railways to provide services to the entire population across the nation will get defeated as the poor sections of society will not be able to afford the ticket prices of trains.

    Travellers Waiting

  • No special provisions: Indian Railways provide special provisions to women, old, disabled, defence, tourists, Yuva, etc. If railways get privatised then there might be a possibility that such provisions will not be given to the people.

    Quotas

  • Accessibility: Indian Railways tries and connects even the remotest parts of India. It is making constant efforts to make it accessible to secluded places. In case, railways will be run by private operators then there are chances that it will not be running in the isolated areas as it will generate less profit from such areas.

Final Verdict
Merely privatising Indian Railways will not solve the ongoing problems faced by railways. Perhaps, the current need is to find a way in which both government and private sector incorporates to maintain the legacy of Indian Railways.

Do you think Railways should completely be handed over to the private operators? Tell us your opinions in the comments section below. That’s all folks!! Keep reading Trainman blog to get latest updates on railways and train travel. Book your train and flight tickets easily through Trainman app. Download the Trainman App and check PNR Status of your booked ticket, Seat Availability in any train, Train between the station and a lot more.






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