The first meeting of the Union Cabinet headed by Modi offered condolences to the victims' families while announcing Rs 2 lakh compensation from the PM's relief fund. Modi sent two central ministers from UP — Kalraj Mishra and Manoj Sinha - to the accident site to take stock of the situation.
On Monday morning, Gorakhdham Express rammed a stationary freight train at a station near Basti in UP, killing 26 and injuring 50 as per official figures. However, district officials and locals put the toll much higher.
The incident has come as a serious challenge for Modi and his railway minister Sadananda Gowda and would require pooling in extra effort and resources to bring the cash-strapped national transporter back on track.
Safety has taken a back seat over the years as railways has slipped into a financial crisis and deadly accidents are frequent on the rickety network.
After taking charge, Gowda said, "Safety and security is my priority. I have called a meeting of officials."
But all eyes are on Modi, who during his election campaign expressed concern over the neglect of railways and promised an overhaul of the network, mostly built by the British. He went on to promise high-speed rail network across the country. However, the accident on the day of his swearing-in may lead to a rethink on bullet trains.
Over the past decade, railways has failed to manage funds for modernization and expansion after paying its staff and fuel and pension bills.
Gowda admitted that there were many challenges before the railways and he would discuss the future course of action with Modi in the next 10 days. "The PM has many noble ideas about railways. I will discuss with him and come out with a roadmap," he said.
The new dispensation has to take a call on reforms agenda such as corporatization of railways by setting up Indian Railways Corporation and an independent rail regulatory authority.
Others suggest restructuring and downsizing the railway board and pushing incremental reforms such as dynamic pricing, setting up of an independent tariff regulator, shifting to commercial accounting practices, attracting more private investment and spinning off the services function of railways.
Government panels set up during the UPA regime had called for greater investment and tariff reform to generate revenue and allowing foreign direct investment in the sector.
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