In a sign that COVID-19 impact on passenger services may last longer, Indian Railways has decided to sharply cut back passenger locomotive production for the financial year 2021-22. Passenger traffic has sharply declined with the surge in COVID-19 cases in April and May 2021 as the second wave forced many states to impose lockdowns.
According to a revised production program, the Ministry of Railways now expects IR’s production units to only roll out a total of 76 passenger electric locomotives for the financial year 2021-22. This a steep cut from FY 2020-21’s production figure of 311 units.
Instead, IR’s locomotive production units will focus on rolling out well over twice the number of freight electric locomotives in FY22. From 395 units of WAG-9H in FY 2020-21, IR has sharply raised FY 2021-22 target production by 510 units to 905 units. In addition, the Alstom electric locomotive factory at Madhepura is likely to supply another 100 units of WAG-12B class locomotives.
As of June 2021, Indian Railways has in excess of 7,800 electric locos in its fleet. Out of these, approximately 2,200 units are designed for passenger services. The rest are used for freight traffic.
Passenger Traffic Affected by Second COVID-19 Wave
Indian Railways’ passenger traffic has been hit significantly since the national lockdown in March 2020. Before services could be fully restored, the second COVID-19 wave forced more local lockdowns, resulting in the cancellation of several trains.
889 long-distance special services and 2,891 suburban services are currently operational, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Suneet Sharma, declared at a press conference earlier today. He stated that the organisation hoped to restore full services as soon as possible. However, he did not commit to any timelines.
The so-called green initiative was started long ago by converting from steam traction to Diesel/ Electric traction during the last quarter of 20th century as a measure of modernization.
The environmental pollution and it’s impact on life and living was started in 1988 by UNO in 1988 under the banner ‘Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) in 1988. It has assumed importance and Paris agreement towards the end of 2014 resulted.
Railway modernization and the so-called zero carbon concept went in parallel. For information.
The Electric loco production has been increased considerably. What is the traffic hauled? Electrification extention and extra loco requirement is not a direct related. It depends upon the traffic. The future of railway financial position appears to be bleak?
I thInk in times of need the passenger locos can be used for goods specially in flat sections. The demand for locomotives will not increase after normalization due to Covid impact. The locos requirement depends of traffic growth. What was the need to convert Diesel Loco works to Electric loco works?
When Steam Traction was changed over to Diesel/Electric, the surplus staff were screened for other jobs in other wings of Railway working. Here it appears the same units are retained and moreover new powerful Alsthom locos are being added.
The management should always look for more traffic, but it appears the aim and effort is to create idle facilities for future unknown traffic, particularly when roadways are being expanded in a big way.
It is desirable that these issues are discussed in the larger National interest for the progress of the country in the desired direction.
The independent of Railways with separate budget should be restored to start with for improving the management role.
Vallabhbhai Patel our first Deputy prime Minister laid great stress on answarability and the responsibility of the Administrators and wanted more freedom to be given as they stay for longer period compared to political leadership.
In a short time He inspired the Administrators working under him and got wonderful results by way of unifying India.
It is good that we are putting Statues for remembering but I think we should follow His administrative skills to make our country really Independent in the development goals.
The share of goods traffic between rail and road should be reviewed from time to time. Road traffic is costly with fuel oil and polluting. We are mostly importing fuel oil. Specific energy/fuel consumption is also more than Railways.
Railways has enough capacity and modernized. There was talk of Transport system under one roof Rail, road and waterways. It is better to streamline this in the National interest.