Narendra Modi-led NDA government has focussed on speed and efficacy of projects, said Union railways and coal minister Piyush Goyal, while stating the achievements of his ministries in the last four years.
Quoting Ram Prasad Bismil's lines, Goyal said the government has taken the commitment of 'sarfaroshi' – perform or perish.
"We had focussed on badlav (transformation), parivartan (change) and naya rail (a new Indian railways)," said Goyal.
"The largest change we have brought in these four years is the change of mindset, of Indian Railways employees and also of the coal sector," he added.
Goyal said that the railways is focussing on improving security and on installing CCTV cameras in stations and trains.
These CCTV cameras would be able to upload the footage captured using Indian Railways' Wi-Fi network at 675 stations. More such technology assisted security measures are also being worked on for train safety, Goyal said.
Goyal further stated that the electrification of railway lines has yielded results and allowed the ministry to save “at least Rs 12,000-13,000 crore”.
Goyal, however, dodged questions on what has been the impact of crude oil price hike on railways balance sheet.
"We are trying ro reduce expense and improve passenger service," Goyal said.
Goyal claimed that the railways had executed largescale projects with speed and skill, as desired by Prime Minister Modi.
His claims faced attacks from regional journalists in Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
"This is not the Parliament and I have not come prepared for project specific details," was Goyal's retort to most regional journalists.
"Railways is one and not of a region," the Union railways minister said. Donning his investment banker hat, Piyush Goyal said that the existing infrastructure of railways are being modernised, to double the capacity of railways in the next few years.
"Jan hit and Desh hit are our motto," Goyal said, adding that the Indian railways, he believes, is truly going to be the growth engine of PM Modi's 'Vikas yatra' (development run)," Goyal said.
Goyal, who is also the Union coal minister, said that coal production in the country has gone up by 105 million tonne in the last four years.
The coal minister said that irrespective of complaints of lack of coal supply to private power peoducers in thw country, there were enough efforts being takwn to supply coal to 'everyone'.
While Goyal claimed efficacy in railways under him, complaints of train punctuality were still not adequateky addressed by Goyal or Railway Board members present today.
"Like the minister said, we had focussed in last few years on improving safety," said Mohammad Jamshed, member (traffic), Railway Board.
The Railway Board chairman, Ashwani Lohani, concurred today that a huge backlog of maintenance has led to rail accidents in the past.
“We have these maintenance arrears for our fixed assets like signalling and moving assets," said Lohani.
"We will be able to complete these backlogs by March 2019," said Lohani. The seasoned bureaucrat agreed with the minister, that the present government has released most of the fund for carrying out these backlog maintenance works.
Goyal said that his ministry had digged into funds that have remained unused for years, comprising of cess to improve railway safety, in the name of former NDA Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.