The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : No railway unit will be privatised: Lalu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

No railway unit will be privatised: Lalu

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 19. The Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, has reiterated that no unit of Railways would be privatised nor would the Ministry resort to outsourcing for material requirement of its manufacturing units.

At present the Railways needed more coaches and wagons. The National Democratic Alliance Government imported wagons to meet the shortage. But after the United Progressive Alliance Government came to power, it had not only stopped importing, but also directed wagon manufacturing units to increase their productivity, he told newsmen here yesterday.

As more trains were being introduced to meet the increasing passenger traffic, the Integral Coach Factory here and the Railway Coach Factory at Kapurtala were directed to turn out more coaches. If necessary, employees would be given overtime.

He assured ICF employees that there would not be any outsourcing in their unit, which would reduce the work force. All closed railway factories would be revived and jobs given to the retrenched.

Mr. Lalu Prasad asked the zones to fill vacancies in Group IV category (trackmen and singnalmen). There were about 34,000 vacancies in Group IV category, which would be soon filled.

Freight movement

A dedicated line would be provided soon for goods movement, which would enable faster movement of goods trains. Though there was a gradual increase in freight traffic, there was a fall in the percentage of goods carried by rail compared to road, which took away substantial business. This would be arrested, giving more incentives and facilities to customers.

The Minister claimed that there was a four per cent increase in passenger traffic and six per cent increase in freight traffic.

There were no major accidents after he came to power. He directed officials to give priority to safety, cleanliness and punctuality. Expressing concern at thefts on trains, especially the operation of biscuit bandits, Mr. Lalu Prasad said he would deploy more Railway Protection Force personnel on major trains. For this, the existing vacancies in the RPF would be filled. Besides, RPF officials would be held responsible if there were major thefts in their jurisdiction.

Asserting that his aim was to make Railways number one internationally (it was placed third at present), he said this was possible through improvement of infrastructure. The Prime Minister promised to sanction more funds. Besides, the Ministry planned to go for market borrowing.

When newsmen pointed that the post of General Manager had been vacant for the last two months, Mr. Lalu Prasad said a panel was deputed to meet the Prime Minister for his approval and soon a new GM would take charge.

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