A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has suggested that investments should be made to strengthen high-density network and for technological upgradation of railway assets for improving the efficiency of the network.
In its Eighth Report on Demand for Grants (2005-06) tabled in Parliament this week, the committee observed that projects were started without much 'justification and background' work. The projects were not completed despite making huge investments on them, as new projects were taken up.
"This has caused spreading the scarce resources very thin without any remuneration from huge investments, creating missing links, last mile projects waiting completion and gross financial loss to Railways," it said.
As on date, ongoing and pending project shelf of Railways was worth 46,000 crore, it noted.
Noting that the growth of basic infrastructure facilities was not commensurate with the growth in economy and traffic, it said new lines, gauge conversion, line-doubling works, restoration of dismantled lines, constructing missing links, level crossings, electrification works and road safety works were a must not only to enhance the carrying capacity of the system but also for the smooth, efficient, prompt and safe running of trains.
Observing that Railway assets in the form of rolling stocks, coaches, wagons and containers were outdated, the committee suggested that effort should be made to modernise coaches to make them accident proof, fire proof. There was also a need for wagons with capacity for more axle on load and containers with larger capacities.
These technological upgradation should be promptly taken up for improving efficiency, throughout and increasing average speed of trains, it said.
The committee also stressed that facilities like railway booking, enquiries through the Internet, SMS and e-mails, etc should be introduced in the entire system promptly for proper planning and allotment of rakes and passenger profile management system.
Meanwhile, a parliamentary committee on education has suggested the emulation of the successful model being followed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The panel expressed it concern over the high dropout rates still persisting at 43.89 per cent in Class I to V and 52.8 per cent in class I to VIII.
While Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan have the highest dropout rates at primary level, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan still have a large number of out-of-school children, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development said in its report.
Noting that the mid-day meal scheme was aimed at not only attracting children to the schools but also retaining them, the committee said this scheme has not had the desired effect. It has not been able to attract children from even poor families, which was one of its main objectives, it pointed out.
"In such a scenario, sustained efforts will have to be made for achieving the two main objectives of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan -- universalising primary schooling by 2007 and elementary education by 2010. Otherwise it might remain elusive," the report said.
Pointing out 'some inherent and practical limitation' in achieving 100 per cent enrolment as well as retention of students in schools, it said in view of the success achieved by Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which have very low dropout, efforts should be made to imitate their example and apply those strategies in poorly performing states vis-à-vis education.