What problems do Indian Railways face?

The Four major problems faced by Indian Railways are (i) large number of rivers requiring construction of bridges (ii) Hilly terrain where railway tracts are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels (iii) sparse population and lack of economic viability (iv) difficulties to lay railway lines on sandy plains and swamps.

Why railways should not be privatised?

An advantage of Indian Railways being government- owned is that it provides nation-wide connectivity irrespective of profit. This would not be possible with privatisation since routes which are less popular will be eliminated, thus having a negative impact on connectivity.

Why is privatisation not good for India?

Less Social Development: Government or Public sector companies also keep doing social work simultaneously. In case privatization happens, it will result in fewer funds for society because private companies have no obligation to do social work. Unemployment: Privatization will also result in retrenchment of employees.

Why foreign investors are investing in India?

Foreign companies invest in India to take advantage of relatively lower wages, special investment privileges like tax exemptions, etc. The Indian Government’s favourable policy regime and robust business environment has ensured that foreign capital keeps flowing into the country.

Why is the railways so important today write any three problems faced by Indian railway?

(i) Railways are difficult to construct in the hilly and mountainous parts of India. (ii) The huge size of the country makes it difficult to connect the remote parts of the country. (iii) Obsolete trains, tracks and equipment make railway unsafe.

Is India’s railways in need of funds?

It is no secret that the Indian Railways is in dire need of funds. If the country’s rail network is to be truly strengthened and its capacity augmented by increasing the speed of trains and opening dedicated freight corridors, huge investments are needed.

How much of India’s Railway network has been electrified?

Between 2018 and 2019, more than 5,000 kilometres of rail were electrified (compared, for example, to 251 km electrified in the UK). And despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, India increased its railway electrification by 37\% – by adding 4,000 km to the network.

Why should the Indian Railways be privatised?

The Indian Railways is driven by a social obligation to provide basic transport facilities to people, and lays the foundation for several small and medium scale economic activities. So privatising the railways means privatising profit and burdening the public sector with losses.

Can Indian Railways lead the decarbonisation of the transport sector?

In India, the Government pledged to reduce carbon intensity of its economic activity by 33-35\% by 2030 (based on 2005 levels). As a major sector of the economy, and obviously Indian Railways are seen as playing a key role in the decarbonisation of its transport sector, hopefully to serve as a model for other industries to copy.