Lok Sabha passes railway budget as oppn slams policy

The Lok Sabha today approved the Rail Budget for 2015 with railway minister Suresh Prabhu making a strong pitch for a massive hike in investment in the Railways and the opposition slamming the government for "failure" to present a roadmap for future investments in Railways.

The opposition also criticised the government for its failure to slash fares as oil prices have fallen sharply.

Participating in the discussion on Railway Budget, M K Raghavan (Cong) said the budget does make it clear how the Railways will find the Rs8,00,000 crore needed to finance its various projects over the next five years.

"It is just fudging of numbers and selling of dreams without any roadmap. The Budget is disappointing... It is not a budget for common man. The government has failed to present a roadmap," he said.

Tariq Anwar (NCP) wondered if railway minister Suresh Prabhu would reduce passenger fares now since oil prices have plummeted  after the BJP-led government raised ticket prices in May last year on the plea of rising oil prices.

He also sought concrete action from the government to ensure that passengers get confirmed reservation.

The railway minister announced several schemes to make the Railways stronger technologically, financially and commercially. But, he said, all these need a strong financial push and warned that without it the national transporter will ''sink further and further''.

However, Prabhu said, while the railways need private investments, it would not mean that railways would be privatised. He said the railways is a national asset and its ownership will continue to remain with the people of India, nothwithstanding projects with private participation.

He also announced setting up of high-level new body, Kaya Kalp Council, to be headed by a distinguished person to turn railways into a vibrant organisation commercially with the participation of private sector.

The opposition, however, said the projects are only on paper and without funds coming from private investors these won't be off the ground.

Tapas Mandal (TMC) pointed out that the budget lacked any specific allocation for projects across the country.

Maintaining that several projects initiated by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in her tenure as railway minister still remained incomplete because of lack of allocation in subsequent budgets, Mandal said the budget was "unique in giving discomfort to the people of West Bengal" as it had provided nothing to improve Kolkata metro rail connectivity.

Observing that Railways should be made self-sufficient, Vijay Hansdak (JMM) said it should not depend on FDI and PPPs for sustenance.

However, Hema Malini (BJP) dubbed the budget as practical and pragmatic and said, "it looks like Modi express has steamed off in right direction".

Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U) said the hike in rail freight charges would fuel a price rise and make items of common consumption expensive, while C N Jayadevan (CPI) regretted that Kerala has not been getting due attention from successive rail ministers.

Dushyant Chautala (INLD) sought installations of more CCTV cameras at stations to improve safety and security of passengers. He also suggested that the Railways could also work out an insurance scheme for the passengers by charging Re one more on tickets.

Sushmita Dev (Cong) attacked the Minister for not announcing new projects and said it was "cowardice" to use the reason of completing old projects for not launching new ones.

Arpita Ghosh (TMC) criticised the budget and said railway projects in West Bengal have either been given no or very little funds.

N K Premachandran (RSP) opposed proposals which would lead to "gradual privatisation" of railways. To raise resources, he said the government should utilise public sector undertakings for investments in railways, enhance overall efficiency and commercially use surplus land.