Several steps have been taken to increase non-fare revenue of Indian Railways by monetization of land and other assets. These include:

i. Policy for leveraging Mobile Assets, Out of Home Advertising, Rail Display Network, Unsolicited proposals and Content on Demand. ii. Commercial utilization of vacant land through Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).

Government of India has permitted 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on automatic route in the following activities/areas of Railway Infrastructure: i. Suburban corridor projects through Public Private Partnership. ii. High speed train projects. iii. Dedicated freight lines. iv. Rolling stock including train sets, and locomotives or coaches manufacturing and maintenance facilities.

v. Railway Electrification. vi. Signalling systems. vii. Freight terminals. viii. Passenger terminals. ix. Infrastructure in industrial park pertaining to railway lines or sidings including electrified railway lines and connectivities to main railway line. x. Mass Rapid Transport Systems.

Foreign Direct Investment in these areas is subject to sectoral guidelines, which include necessary safety certification from central government or its authorized entity. The FDI policy is also open for U.S. businesses. In order to give a facelift to the Indian Railways and cater to diverse needs of passengers, some of the steps taken include:

i. Significant step-up in investment for capacity enhancement, Safety and Modernization of Railways. ii. Improvement and upgradation of various passenger amenities like foot over bridges, lifts, escalators, toilets, battery operated vehicles, wheel chairs, waiting rooms.

iii. Leveraging information technology for online ticketing and enquiry services. iv. Introduction of various premium train services like Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya, Utkrisht Double Decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY), Mahamana and coaches like Deen Dayalu and Anubhuti.

The Government has approved the setting up of Rail Development Authority (RDA).

The role/mandate of RDA, inter alia, includes providing expert advice to Government to make informed decision on :- Pricing of services commensurate with costs. Measures for enhancement of non-fare Revenue. Protection of consumer interests, by ensuring quality of service and cost optimization.

Promoting competition, efficiency and economy. Encouraging market development and participation of stakeholders in the rail sector and for ensuring a fair deal to the stakeholders and customers.

Creating positive environment for investment. Promoting efficient allocation of resources in the Sector. Benchmarking of service standards against international norms and specify and enforce standards with respect to the quality, continuity and reliability of services provided by them.

Providing framework for non-discriminatory open access to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) infrastructure and others in future. Suggesting measures to absorb new technologies for achieving desired efficiency and performance standards. Suggesting measures for human resource development to achieve any of its stated objectives.

As per original Act, SPG cover solely meant for security of the Prime Minister; Amendment to make SPG more efficient in securing PM: Shri Amit Shah

Threat Perception, not vendetta politics, determines level of Security Cover; Z+ cover of CRPF with ASL and Ambulance provision maintained for Gandhi Family: Home Minister

SPG has been turned into a status symbol; Act has been amended each time earlier only to ensure continued SPG cover for a family: Shri Amit Shah Posted On: 27 NOV 2019 7:26PM by PIB Delhi The Lok Sabha passed the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019, after negating all the proposed amendments today.

Initiating the debate on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019 today in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that SPG shall provide proximate security to the Prime Minister and his immediate family members residing with him at his official residence. The Bill says that family members of a former Prime Minister who reside with him at his allotted accommodation will get security cover of the SPG only for five years, from the date he/she ceases to hold the office of Prime Minister.

Replying to the debate, the Home Minister noted that there is a perception in the country that the amendment in SPG Act is only for the purpose to remove the SPG security cover for the Gandhi family. Contrary to this, the change of the security cover has been done only on the basis of yearly security threat perception review by the government. Such a security review has been a part of the original act, he added.

Shri Shah emphasized that the security cover of the Gandhi family has not been reduced or taken away, rather it has just been changed from SPG cover to Z Plus security cover by the CRPF, along with ASL and ambulance, across the country. The level of the security cover has been maintained and not even one security personnel has been reduced. He also said that the SPG security cover is being formed by the same security personnel who comprise of the Z plus security cover.

Shri Shah informed that based on the recommendations of the Birbal Nath committee report, SPG came into existence in 1985. From 1985 to 1988, SPG was governed by an Executive Order and only in 1988 the SPG Act came into existence to provide security to the Prime Minister and his/her family.

Shri Shah said that the SPG Act was enacted in 1988 to provide for the constitution and regulation of the SPG as an armed force to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister and his/her immediate family members. Amendments to the Act were effected in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2003 and today a further amendment is being brought to revert back to the original spirit of the Act.

Shri Shah stated that the previous amendments to the 1988 Act have been carried out each time to provide security cover only to one family. According to the original Act, SPG is a specialised force to provide comprehensive security cover to the Prime Minister of the country and not a particular family. SPG doesn't only provide physical security, but it takes care about protection of Prime Minister’s office, his/her communication systems, foreign tours and issues pertaining to his/her health and well being.

Dismissing the charge of vindictiveness for removal of SPG cover of Gandhi family, Shri Shah stated that such security cover reviews have happened in the past with respect to ex prime ministers, including Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, Shri I.K. Gujaral, Shri Chandra Shekhar, Shri H.D. Deve Gowda and Dr. Manmohan Singh, but there was no such opposition ever when SPG cover was withdrawn. The Home Minister said that the Government is committed to secure each citizen of the country.

Shri Shah further stated that the Modi government never takes decision of providing security cover on the basis of vendetta politics but on scientific threat analysis for a particular individual. He also said that security cover has been provided to members of all political parties based on individual case based threat analysis. Security cover must not be treated as a status symbol by individuals. The security cover meant specifically for the Prime Minister, must not be enjoyed by any other individual. Moreover, the three protectees of the Gandhi family who have been specially mentioned here, have been on many trips without informing SPG, the Home Minister pointed out.

Talking about the rationale behind bringing the amendment, Shri Shah informed the House that in the Act, there is no cut off period for providing the SPG protection to former Prime Ministers or members of their immediate families. Thus, the number of individuals to be provided SPG cover can potentially become quite large. In such a scenario, there can be severe constraint on the resources, training and related infrastructure of SPG. This can also impact the effectiveness of SPG in providing adequate cover to the principle protectee, the Prime Minister in office.

Shri Shah said that the main aim of bringing this amendment is to make SPG more efficient. This would ensure that no omission happens in carrying out its core mandate, as the security of the Prime Minister, as Head of the Government, is of paramount importance for Government, governance and national security. The Bill says that when the proximate security is withdrawn from a former Prime Minister, such proximate security shall also stand withdrawn from members of his or her immediate family.

Production Programmes for 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 include manufacture of 160, 240 and 240 coaches respectively for train sets at Integral Coach Factory (ICF). Two rakes have already been put into service.

Train 18 is a Semi High Speed fully air conditioned Train having quicker acceleration and contemporary passenger amenities like on-board infotainment and GPS based passenger information system, CCTV, automatic sliding doors with retractable coach footsteps and zero discharge vacuum based bio-toilets etc.

Safety oscillation trials have been certified by Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), and thereafter, based on the certification and own inspection, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has cleared the train sets for commercial operation.

At present, Train 18 trains are being operated on New Delhi-Varanasi and New Delhi- Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra sectors. Train 18 is a Shatabdi-type train of “Semi High Speed” genre offering additional amenities and operational advantages to the passengers. The fare of these trains has, therefore, been fixed higher than that of Shatabdi Trains.

Two Uttam rakes have been manufactured by Integral Coach Factory / Chennai. One is allotted to Western Railway and the other to Central Railway. Western Railway has introduced the state-of-the-art Uttam rake unit No. 5533/5534 on 15.10.2019 for the local trains in Mumbai.

The salient features of Uttam rakes are as under:- Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in every coach. Emergency chains have been replaced with emergency push buttons. Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) moulded interior paneling with aesthetic colours. Seats made from FRP with wood finish.

Equipped with FRP cladded partitions. Modular and Wider luggage rack. Anti-dent partitions in coaches to prevent thefts.

Improved dual lock stopper with dual slot handles windows in all coaches. Wider and improved grab handles for better grip. Latest powdered coated brushless DC (BLDC) fans in all coaches which consumes 30% less energy than conventional fans.

Provision of modular type diffused LED lights. Electrically operated Passenger Alarm System in place of traditional emergency chains.

Provision of camouflaged aluminium moulded strips on floor to discourage theft. Stainless steel protective plate near all passenger seats to avoid colour fading due to footwear friction. Red emergency buttons.