I rise to speak on the Railway Budget. Without being political about it, I must say my friend, Mr Suresh Prabhu, is a fine person. He has the ability to turn around the Railways, and make a difference, which we all seek. But I still have some apprehensions.
Of course, the Budget is in the right direction. There are no new announcements. There is no populism. Even last year he tried to keep the Budget focused in terms of achieving the targets rather than simply expanding the scope of targets. I think it is a matter of great importance and caution that we do not overstretch our commitments because there are so many projects, so many railway lines, including in my erstwhile constituency, which I represented in the Lok Sabha, where projects started 20 years ago and still they have not seen the light of day. Part of it is done and the balance is not completed. This is the story of most of the projects. I think it is important that prioritisation is done and completion of projects is timely rather than having half-baked and unfinished projects.
I have also a word of caution. There is a mention in the finance minister's speech that the government is going to have a capex of Rs 1.25 lakh crore by the Railways in the current fiscal and Rs 1,000 crore for the roads sector. While I have also been in the infrastructure ministry, and I have no doubt the Railways is a far bigger, far more well-equipped organisation, but to absorb Rs 1.25 lakh crore of capital expenditure in one single financial year is a humungous task, and it is a huge challenge. I wish you well, but I have my doubts about it.
And doubts are not because of the intention but because of our own systems. The capacity of our systems is first to take decisions, to give the clearances, then, there are 10 other issues, which are involved. Therefore, as a statement of intent that you will be spending "x" amount of money is a good thing. But I do not know how much of that will be actually spent. Nonetheless, I compliment you and wish you well. Even if 50 per cent of the money is spent, I think it will go a long way in improving the overall infrastructure of the Railways.
19/03/16 Praful Patel/Business Standard
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
Of course, the Budget is in the right direction. There are no new announcements. There is no populism. Even last year he tried to keep the Budget focused in terms of achieving the targets rather than simply expanding the scope of targets. I think it is a matter of great importance and caution that we do not overstretch our commitments because there are so many projects, so many railway lines, including in my erstwhile constituency, which I represented in the Lok Sabha, where projects started 20 years ago and still they have not seen the light of day. Part of it is done and the balance is not completed. This is the story of most of the projects. I think it is important that prioritisation is done and completion of projects is timely rather than having half-baked and unfinished projects.
I have also a word of caution. There is a mention in the finance minister's speech that the government is going to have a capex of Rs 1.25 lakh crore by the Railways in the current fiscal and Rs 1,000 crore for the roads sector. While I have also been in the infrastructure ministry, and I have no doubt the Railways is a far bigger, far more well-equipped organisation, but to absorb Rs 1.25 lakh crore of capital expenditure in one single financial year is a humungous task, and it is a huge challenge. I wish you well, but I have my doubts about it.
And doubts are not because of the intention but because of our own systems. The capacity of our systems is first to take decisions, to give the clearances, then, there are 10 other issues, which are involved. Therefore, as a statement of intent that you will be spending "x" amount of money is a good thing. But I do not know how much of that will be actually spent. Nonetheless, I compliment you and wish you well. Even if 50 per cent of the money is spent, I think it will go a long way in improving the overall infrastructure of the Railways.
19/03/16 Praful Patel/Business Standard
