Ideally, the government should be restructuring and setting aside a substantial budget for the railway industry
RAWALPINDI: The tragic Gujranwala railway accident clearly underscores the incompetent administration, which has failed time and again to provide a safe and secure railway service. This incident took many precious lives and we still have not heard any government plan regarding the restructuring and upgrading of the railway infrastructure.
Train accidents are becoming common in Pakistan due to corruption, poor maintenance of tracks and bridges, and mismanagement in almost every field. Pakistan inherited miles of railway tracks from the British, but with the passage of time, these have seen tremendous decline due to corruption, mismanagement and poor investment.
Billions are spent on Metro Bus projects to benefit a small segment of the population whereas if these huge amounts are spent on the railway infrastructure, they can benefit a large section of the population and save precious lives. Upgrading the railway infrastructure, including bringing in new engines, bogies, tracks and bridges, will in the long term, help the country’s economy. This would serve the nation by not only creating job opportunities, but also lessening the reliance on the truck mafia. These heavy-loaded trucks end up destroying the roads on which they travel, which in turn remain unrepaired leading to fatal road accidents.
A single cargo train can carry the load, which on average will be carried by 100 trucks. The overall cost of operating efficient cargo trains is about one-fifth of the cost of transporting goods by truck. Time, roads, and the costs saved will have a positive impact on the economy. Upgrading passenger trains, on the other hand, will not only reduce road congestion, but will also provide comfortable and economic means of travel for millions of poor Pakistanis. It will reduce pollution, save fuel costs and help revive the economy. Where are the practical and visionary leaders who can implement these measures? Ideally, the government should be restructuring and setting aside a substantial budget for the railway industry. However, we see no long-term planning because of corruption and a lack of vision.
Fatima Mansoor
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2015.
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