Rlys to chug into losses with gauge conversion in Gujarat

Now, as part of a narrow-gauge revival project, these sections — passing through the tribal districts of Vadodara, Bharuch, Narmada, and the Panchmahals — have been repaired.

According to Western Railway senior divisional commercial manager Manmohan Singh, once the lines are certified by the chief commissioner for railway safety, train service will be started in a month.

One railway official said, “This is a millennium gift of the railway to the Adivasis of Central Gujarat.”

Gift it may be, but many railway officials feel that the project would prove a losing exercise as these areas were not expected to generate adequate number of passengers required for train service. Because of this the number of carriages in the five trains to be run on these sections is being restricted to four.

The biggest competitor will be Gujarat State Transport Service Corporation (GSRTC), which provides an efficient bus service in the area. Besides, there are private bus operators.

Speed will be one factor leading to few passengers. Narrow guage trains have an average speed of 20 kmph, while buses do 40-50 kmph. The train speed will be further hampered by numerous halts. In the 37 km between Bodeli and Chhotaudepur, there are seven halts; in the 101 km between Dabhoi and Timba there are 20 halts; in the 61 km between Rajpipla and Ankleshwar there are 14 halts. There are seven halts between Jhagadia and Netrang, and 12 between Kosamba and Umarpada. Obviously, nobody in a hurry will take the trains.

The short-staffed railway is not appointing booking clerks at every station though the trains will halt at every station. At stations which attract less than 20 passengers per day, guards themselves will issue tickets. And at those which attract 50 passengers in a day, an agent will be appointed on commission.

Member of Parliament Ramsinh Rathwa, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), admits the project will be a burden on the railways. He, however, feels GSRTC will lose passengers to the railways as bus fares are very high.

He said the Vadodara division of Western Railway generates the highest revenue, so “the losses the narrow gauge division will make should be viewed in perspective, for the service is a social responsibility.”

He admits the project could have been revived only with the BJP in power at the Centre. “The Congress had more than five years at its disposal, but it cared less.”