Piyush Goyal reveals Indian Railways is casualty-free since April 1

Union Minister of Railways and Commerce, Piyush Goyal has said  casualties have been reported in railway-related accidents since April 1 this year. Piyush Goyal who is currently in Sweden also ruled out possibility of privatisation of Indian railways and said that it will continue to remain under government. Additionally, he also asserted that Centre is planning to install WiFi services inside trains in next four to four and a half years.  

Piyush Goyal on railway-related accidents 

Speaking about railway-related accidents Union Minister said, “In current year, from April 1, 2019, till today, we have had zero fatality in Indian Railways. I have ruled out privatisation of Indian Railways. It will continue to be an Indian government entity. It serves people of India. But I do believe in large investments in railways”. 

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WiFi services in railways 

Talking about providing WiFi services in running trains, Piyush Goyal said, “We are also trying to provide WiFi services at all 6,500 stations by end of next year. It is a more complicated techlogy subject. Giving WiFi in running trains requires investment ... Towers need to be put and re has to be equipment inside trains. In this, we might have to bring in foreign techlogy and investors. It will help a lot in terms of security as CCTVs would be re in every train compartment and its live feed will go to police station.  signalling system will work in a better manner through WiFi facility. In next four or four-and-a-half years, we will start this facility." 

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Private entities in Railway 

Piyush Goyal talking about involvement of private players in India Railways said, "We are modernising stations with help of private players like we did in Bhopal for instance where a private company has modernised  entire station. It is nearing completion. NBCC is working at 12 to 13 locations to modernise  station and simultaneously to develop complexes for housing, commercial activity, shopping malls in a cross-subsidy model. Once se models become successful, re will be faster rollout across country.” 

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‘Zero-emission Railway’ 

Union Minister also added that Centre is planning to segregate station modernisation with  monetisation of land. He said, “re are lots of possibilities to involve private sector in se activities. re are several locations across country where re will be a huge demand of Railway land. We have planned to use railway land for solar installation in a big way. Under leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we want to make Railways world's first zero-emission Railway.” 

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Piyush Goyal also said that in ar four-five years, Railways will be 100% electric. He said, “We are also planning for industrial parks on railway lands. It's a new area. We are trying to locate certain parcels of land, which Railways does t require, and which can at some st become industrial parks and generators of a number of jobs and working opportunities while adding to ecomic activity of India”.  

(With ANI Inputs)