Synopsis-Supp. E 11.03.2008.Pdf
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RAJYA SABHA _________ ∗SUPPLEMENT TO SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES __________ (Proceedings other than Questions and Answers) __________ Tuesday, March 11, 2008/ Phalguna 21, 1929 (Saka) __________ THE BUDGET (RAILWAYS) 2008-09 - CONTD. SHRI NAND KISHORE YADAV : Hon’ble Railway Minister felt very proud while presenting the Railway Budget, 2008-09. He said that the railways are earning a profit of crores of rupees every year. It is merely the jugglery of statistics as railway projects of about Rs.47000 crores are pending today. The railway system is the same old system. Signals, coaches are also old, facilities are similar, so how the development of railways is taking place. In recent years a number of announcements have been made. But they have not been reviewed. These announcements have not been implemented till today. In this way hon’ble Railway Minister have cheated the public so far. Today, whatever he has said in the Budget, I do not think he will be able to implement them in the coming years. During the Budget he said that we have not raised the fare. But as far as I know, the Department of Railways have increased the fare by fifty per cent during these four years. ___________________________________________________ *This Synopsis is not an authoritative record of the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. 169 Also, most of the trains are running late by twelve, sixteen hours. They have changed the category of trains. For this, public have to pay ten-twenty rupees extra. They said that more passengers will be traveling in old coaches. As a result facilities will be less. He said about the ‘Garib Rath’. The condition of ‘Garib Rath’ is such that poor people fear to travel in it because they fear by the mere sight of A.C. Poor people travel in those trains which have open windows. The condition in ‘Garib Rath’ is such that the number of berths have been increased so much that it becomes difficult to move within the coach. Also, the non-peak season so far had 105 days which have been reduced to 60 days. That means the concession now will be only half. Our area has certain demands. Wherein modification of Azamgarh Railway Station, an over-bridge on adjoining crossing, a train from Azamgarh to Kolkata, two trains between Azamgarh-Mau at noon time and to start a train from Sambal to Delhi are the major demands. SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY : I support this Rail Budget. It is a ‘Dream Budget’. Earlier, the Opposition parties were demanding ‘Elections’ but after the presentation of this ‘Railway Budget’ and ‘General Budget’ they have become silent. For the first time in the history of Indian Parliament the Minister of Railways has reduced the rail-fare of First Class, Second Class and Sleeper Class. It is a fact. For the last four years he has kept it the same. Industry has said that the Railway Budget is anti- inflationary. A new look has been adopted in the Budget with railway lines for tribal areas and remote areas. The Hon'ble Railway Minister and the Hon'ble Prime Minister went to Jhabua. They laid the foundation stone for a Rs. 1250 crore project of laying the railway line there. Because of this, there 170 will be development in that area. The BJP was in power for eight years. Unfortunately, they did not have that vision. Railway Budget doesn't only talk about fares, it talks about passenger amenities, modernization of railway stations. We want world-class railway stations in all the States. For the first time, in the last three years, Rs. 75,000 crores have been earned by the Government by way of creating a freight corridor, by increasing the frequency of trains, by having additional bogies. Your own State of Kerala has been given a railway coach factory by Laluji. In backward States like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, new trains have been introduced and those States are being ruled by the BJP. We want all sorts of facilities to be provided to the people. I agree there can be constructive criticism. When allocations are made, we have to see that these are evenly distributed among all the States. Left-party friends always criticize the Budget. This time the Left Parties have also started praising this Budget. BJP have not even given their reaction to the media. All type of people, have been given concessions by the Railway Minister. Mumbai suburb has got 300 additional services in this Budget. For laying new railway lines, the Government has to see whether sufficient funds are there or not. I request the Hon'ble Minister to adhere to the time schedule so that the project is finished within the stipulated time frame and without cost escalation. A new train has been introduced between Puducherry and Bengaluru. I am grateful to the Hon'ble Railway Minister for that. We want the East-Coast Railway Line from Chennai to Mahabalipuram. The Hon'ble Railway Minister has sanctioned that project. By connecting Velankanni, Nagore and Shanishwar temple in Karaikal, all three religions are covered. The funds have been given by the Railway Ministry. I want that this 171 project should be finished in this year itself, i.e., 2008 Puducherry to Mahe train has been introduced now. We need a train facility to the people of Yanam . I want the Railway Minister to look into this. I have a last point. We wanted a Shatabdi model train between Chennai and Puducherry. It has not yet been finalized, so far. I urge upon the Railway Minister to consider my demands and help the States of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. SHRI TARINI KANTA ROY: I would like to say that we support the Budget but with some reservations. This year, the Railway Budget for 2008-09 certainly has some positive features. The reduction of passenger fares is particularly welcome. Reducing freight rates for both petrol and diesel is also a good step. There are some concerns like targets of new lines which is only 350 kms.; gauge conversion, 2150 kms.; and doubling, 1000 kms., which are quite low. The Railway Budget, in many ways, ignores the National Common Minimum Programme. The pace towards privatization has also gained momentum. It has gradually increased the private participation in infrastructure development. This Budget is not isolated from the policy of economic reforms pursued by this Government. The age-old signalling system should be transformed into the modernized signalling system. What will be the role of private sector while four stations have already been modernized and upgraded? Should we hand over the core sector of the Railways to the private sector? The catering system is not a passenger-amenity now; but it is commercially oriented. The private contractors are exploiting the workers multifariously. The Indian Railways are surrendering the vacant posts instead of filling up the same. They are going to outsource in respect of printing of tickets. As regards the Commission for Vendors of 172 Northern Railway, the orders of Court are not being complied with, for the last 25 years. The Minister of Railways has made announcement as regards some new vacancies while 993 vacancies are lying vacant in the Railway Protection Force. As per the announcement of Railway Budget for 2007-08, 8000 vacancies are still to be filled up in the Railway Protection Force. Garib Rath as declared for Guwahati-Kolkata, has yet not been started. On account of non-doubling of the railway tracks from New Jalpaiguri to New Bongaigaon through Jalpaiguri Road and New Cooch Behar, how can the infrastructural development be made in the North-East region? The New Maynaguri-Jogighopa lines project is still pending. The demand for a daily train from New Cooch Behar to Sealdah has still not been fulfilled. Even the demand for a superfast train like Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi from Sealdah to Haldibari via NGP and Jalpaiguri district has not been met. SHRI RAHUL BAJAJ: I congratulate the Minister of Railways for the universally acclaimed Fifth Railway Budget. I support the Budget because the Railways are having surplus and profit. But, as an important organization of India, the Railways are required to be strengthened. I am very happy with the announcement of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor. But, it should immediately be started. The share of the Railways as regards freight movement of non-bulk items is very low. People do not prefer the Railway conveyance as a result of non- existence of end-to-end connectivity and involvement of more time. The Railways have increased productivity and better utilization of all assets. But on account of short life of railway tracks, wagons, racks, etc, we should make more investments. 173 I do not oppose the private sector. The public-private sector would be heartening in the Railways. We have to follow the example of China in order to increase profits. Now, I am coming very quickly to my last point. The railway Minister has achieved this after laying down the broad policy guidelines. They did well, they did investments and the present Government is reaping fruits of that. There must be some institutional mechanism. That within the supremacy of the political masters the railway Board and the other entire managements should have more autonomy so that the good work done is not turned back. SHRI TARLOCHAN SINGH: You pay more and you are given this ticket. I don't think this is a people's budget in that sense. The cancellation charge of Air ticket is Rs. 100 whereas Railway is charging Rs. 250 for cancellation of tickets. Even then is it a people's Budget? Why not we invite private people to lay down new railway lines only for goods trains? When you have thousands of crores of rupees, what is the facility for senior citizens and handicaps in this Budget? You cannot cross the platform on the railways station.