Indian Railways is the second largest system in the world under a
single management, with an extensive network of 62,725 kilometers, 21.5
percent of which is electrified. Indian Railways operates an extensive
network. It ranks second in the world (after China) in terms of freight
intensity, track to land ratio, wagons to track ratios, passengers and
cargo. Freight traffic carried in IFY 1997-98 was 430 million tons, up
5.5 percent over the previous year. The target for IFY 1998-99 is 450
million tons and an annual growth rate of 7.4 percent has been projected
for the next five years. Indian Railways has launched a program to
reduce terminal delays and turn around time of its rolling stock. The
program aims at increasing freight carrying capacity by 50 percent
through continual usage of wagons. Indian Railways is also soliciting
private sector participation in freight movement through a
Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) scheme and a Own-Your-Wagon-Scheme
(OYWS).
Thrust areas identified for improvements and expansion
include:
- Replacement and renewal of over-aged assets,
- Augmentation of terminal and rolling stock capacities,
- Gauge conversion and electrification,
- Introduction of new routes and long distance special parcel
services.
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