New Delhi: Improving passenger amenities is a priority area for the Indian railways and it will set up a panel to look at innovative financing for unviable projects, Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday.
“The old mindset of economic viability should be substituted by social viability,” Banerjee said.
The Indian railways will acquire 18,000 wagons in the fiscal year 2009-10, up from last year’s intake of 11,000, Banerjee said on Friday while presenting the Railway Budget.
She further said:
• Panel under Sam Pitroda to look at utilization of railways optic fibrenetwork
•To launch double-decker coaches for inter-city travel
•To develop multi-functional complexes at railway stations
•To develop 50 stations with ‘international-level facilities’
•New coach factory to be set up in public-private partnership
•To put railways land to productive use along freight corridor
•Private operation of freight terminals will be encouraged