Chairman Railways announces measures to upgrade system

[Hyde]

Chairman Railways announces measures to upgrade system ​

LAHORE (August 02 2009): Chairman Pakistan Railways, Sami-ul-Haq Khilji said that the deficit of the Railways had swelled to Rs 52 billion, including 35 billion of overdrafts of the State Bank of Pakistan. The government, despite limited resources, had decided, with firm determination, to provide better facilities to passengers and a new train service would be initiated soon, with public-private partnership.

While talking to reporters on Saturday, at the Railway headquarter, Sami said that retired Railways employees would be provided houses at easy instalments, after retirement, so that they might spend a peaceful life. The Railways had completed a survey of more than 12 big cities for the construction of housing societies on the land of the Railways.

The Chairman Railways announced Rs 200,000 for the family of the deceased railway employee, Ghulam Rasool, who expired yesterday in hospital, because of the brutal torture of the police, during a protest against the termination of his colleagues' services. He also announced inducting his two brothers into the Railways.

He said that 100 Locomotives Engines had been added for Cargo Service, while 160 would be used for Passenger service, to reduce the shortage of locomotives and regularise the Passenger train service. He further said that 202 new coaches were being imported from China to provide satisfactory services to passengers and a contract had been finalised with a Chinese firm for it. The "Mass Transit Train System" would also be introduced in big cities across the country, as in Lahore , Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan etc he maintained.

He said that the Minister Railway, its Chairman and other high officials would hold open court at the Railway Stations of prominent cities to redress the grievances of the employees and the passengers and he, himself, would start this by holding an open court at the Lahore Railway Station next week.

In reply to a question, he said that the signal system at more than 65 Railway junctions was being repaired, which would be helpful in regularising the departure and arrival of trains.

He said that the trade union had the right, under law, to protest for their demands. The Chairman Railways said that the legal demands of workers would be accepted and their problems would be solved to avoid, in future, such tragic incidents of the loss of lives, as that of Ghulam Rasool he added. Replying to a question regarding the police baton charge on workers, he said, that the Station House Officer ( SHO) had been suspended and the concerned Superintendent of Police had been transferred.