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| Sunday, 26 June 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Upcountry trains struggle to crawl by Gamini Warushamana Railway Services is in a deep crisis due to 'frozen' railfares despite escalating fuel prices with no funds forthcoming from the government. Due to this crisis the Railway Department is unable to maintain basic quality and safety standards, said transport economist and a member of the Committee of Revival of Railway (CRR) Dr. T.L. Gunaruwan, after sending in his resignation from the CRR. Dr. Gunaruwan's letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Transport stressed that CRR cannot accept any responsibility of accidents and subsequent damage caused. The up-country rail track is in unusable condition and speed has been reduced to 5 kmph while crossing bridges. The speed limit cannot be maintained in the mountain rail track. Roofs are leaking in carriages of the Matale - Kandy line and passangers use umbrellas inside the train during rainy days. Carriages are running without shutters, seats and sometimes even without brakes. The department owe millions to the Timber Corporation and therefore the corporation refuses to supply sleepers. " We can't maintain rail tracks or carriages. Today we use 40-years- old engines and 20-years-old carriages which are not fit for use without proper maintenance", Dr. Gunaruwan said. Today the rail fare is 30 cents per Km and it is still 'frozen' to offset diesel prices of Rs.30. Department spent the allocated money it received for the whole year to construct the coastal rail track which was destroyed by tsunami. In 1960s and the 70s the government allocated over Rs 100 million to the railway service per year. But now it has been reduced to Rs.40 million per year. If the government cannot increase rail fare, a fuel subsidy should be given to overcome the crisis, Dr. Gunaruwan told the Sunday Observer. Dr.Gunaruwan accuses top bureaucrats and the policy makers for not recognising the achievements of the Railway Department last year even under adverse conditions such as fuel price increase, salary increase and destruction of the coastal rail track. Petroleum transport increased from 20% to 55%. Rolling stock deployment efficiency was improved through better rosters. The Department showed that it was not an inefficient institution by constructing the southern track within a short time. CRR did not ask for new engines, carriages or capital injection at this moment. However, to provide a better service at least 15 power-sets have to be added to the present fleet, Dr.Gunaruwan stressed. |
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