After swachh Bharat, this cess may make your railway journey costly

New Delhi: The Railways is considering various options to mobilise funds for its safety schemes, including imposing a safety cess on fares. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu hinted on this while talking to mediapersons after a programme here today. When asked whether Railways was considering option of levying safety cess on every ticket, the Minister said there were several options, which were under consideration.

The government in the Budget had proposed setting up of a special safety fund of Rs one lakh crore. The dedicated rail safety fund is proposed to be utilised for track improvement, bridge rehabilitation works, rolling stock replacement, human resource development, improved inspection system, safety work at level crossings, among other things.

The Minister today inaugurated various passenger amenities at several Mumbai suburban railway stations through video conferencing. Mr Prabhu said the inauguration of passenger amenities at various stations of Mumbai was an important event. Around 80 lakh passengers travel in the Mumbai suburban railways and it was trying its best to provide better passenger amenities.

Lift, escalators, foot over bridges were to be provided at small stations too and the Railways need cooperation of the travellers in maintaining its property, he added. The Minister also informed that Railways was working with state government to form a joint venture, so that other rail development projects were initiated soon.

The passenger amenities that were launched today included elevated deck at Borivali Station, new FOBs at Dadar, Matunga Road and Bhayandar stations, escalators at Dadar, Bhayandar, Vasai Road and Nallasopara stations, booking offices at Kandivali and Vasai Road station, toilet blocks at Goregaon and Kandivali stations, passenger reservation centre at Nallasopara station and Andheri skywalk connecting North FOB of railway station to metro station. (UNI)