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Bibek Debroy Committee on Railways

Last updated on November 9th, 2024 Posted on November 9, 2024 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  2544

Syllabus: GS3/ Infrastructure

In News

  • The Bibek Debroy Committee 2015 report aimed to make Indian Railways economically viable and competitive, with a focus on decentralization, safety, and modernization, however, reforms are yet to be implemented completely.  

Key Recommendations and Their Implementation

  • Liberalisation of Indian Railways: Introduce private players to enhance competition and improve services.
    • Implementation: Partially implemented. Some PPP projects have been initiated, but full-scale liberalization is yet to be undertaken.
  • Empowering Railway Officials: Grant more autonomy to GMs and DRMs for decision-making.
    • Implementation: Implemented. GMs and DRMs have been empowered to take independent decisions, leading to faster decision-making and improved efficiency.
  • Overhaul of Accounting System: Implement accrual accounting to improve financial transparency and accountability.
    • Implementation: Implemented. The Indian Railways has adopted accrual accounting.
  • Establishment of Rail Development Authority (RDA): Create an independent regulator to oversee railway operations and promote competition.
    • Implementation: Implemented. The RDA has been established to provide expert advice on pricing, non-fare revenue, and competition.
  • Focus on Safety: Create a dedicated fund for safety-related investments.
    • Implementation: Implemented. The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) was established for safety upgrades with a ₹1 lakh crore fund.
  • Recommended modern technology, exemplified by Vande Bharat trains and KAVACH systems.
Bibek-Debroy-Committee-on-Railways

Image Courtesy: TOI

Suggested Reading: Indian Railways and Safety Challenges

Source: IE

 
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