AGARTALA, Nov 18 (TIWN): Due to lack of business planning by State Govt. even after the arrival of BG (Broad Gauge) express trains, freight trains, no revenue generation from Tripura visible yet. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday underlined the need for the Indian Railways to look beyond traditional sources of revenue. "The railways needs structural changes and needs investment. The railways is suffering only because of lack of investments.

But at the same time we must not lose sight of issues -- customer services, freight punctuality etc," said Prabhu. 

Tripura Govt. was offered by Central to start export of bamboo made products and to boost cultivation and expansion of state income from export-trade. “Lots of natural bamboo, green resources  are here.... use it”, said Suresh Prabhu in the inauguration programme of Delhi-Agartala Express train.  But Tripura ‘s Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha, hardly envisioned any plan to generate business for state’s economy by using railways.

With the initiative of Central Govt. however a Mumbai based bamboo company is now investing for Tripura, also in Agartala Airport it has a branch.

In this regard, BJP State President Biplab Deb said, “Under this present Govt. of Tripura forget about revenue generation. The freight trains are coming with full of goods in Tripura, but going empty from state”.

“Central Govt. is ready to give 50 % of the subsidy for sometime, but there is no initiative of Exporting anything by Tripura Govt. Under this present Govt. revenue generation is not possible”, said Deb.

In a recent report, it was disclosed that India’s  Railway infrastructure led to spent just 92.5 paisa last year to earn every rupee of revenue, leaving practically nothing to invest in new facilities or improve current ones. The one of the chief causes behind this are : various unions, who dislike all change, small or big. However, Suresh Prabhu intends to fix all infrastructural problems within 2019.

However, India has already been considered as the 5^th biggest railway networks, in the world with 1.3 million employees.  However, the biggest problem of Railway infrastructure upgradation, is that without enough revenue the Railway is just becoming as a financial burden on the Unions Budget, and want to make it largely self sufficient organization run on the lines of an efficient corporation.

However, other states are atleast investing to generate revenue from Rail, but although the Central Govt. is ready to give its full support to boost Tripura’s bamboo industry, but Tripura Govt. yet to say anything in reply to that offer.

Suresh Prabhu also said at Agartala Railway Station, “It’s a matter of luck that Tripura has such an environment in support of Bamboo cultivation. So use the Greenery to promote such a beautiful product inside Tripura”.

Then again on Saturday, Pointing to the rising cost of operations and the extreme low freight growth, Prabhu said the railways was working on improving its non fare revenue. 

"Traditionally railways have relied on freight and fare for revenue but that is not going to work because the cost of operations has gone up significantly. The biggest burden of the pay commission is on railways, the largest employer in the country. 

"Moreover, the growth of freight has been extremely low this year," he said. 

Talking about private participation, Prabhu said the railways have got two big ticket investments -- one from US-based GE and another from French multinational Alstom -- in the field of locomotive manufacturing. 

"The orders will be to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore," he said. 

But question arises, Does the Central Govt expect any co-operation from Tripura?? In SMART City project the state govt never supported 50 : 50 investment, now how the Tripura Govt, which is known as the poorest govt will be ready for investment ??