By IANS,
New Delhi : It was not possible to modernise Indian Railways unless steps were taken to improve internal efficiency and increase the load factor, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury said here Wednesday.
“Unless some measures are taken to improve internal efficiency and increase the load factor and thereby generate revenues, no future modernisation of the railways is possible,” Yechury said at a press conference.
“Indian Railways has a virtual monopoly of supplying coal to all the power stations. This supply ratio that Indian Railways has been supplying has come down now to 45 percent. Fifty-five percent of the power stations now use coal from outside the railways,” he added.
“Most of the modernisation plans that are announced in the budget rely on the Sam Pitroda Commission recommendations. The thrust of the Sam Pitroda commission recommendations is towards privatisation,” he said.