Andhra Pradesh   

Facilities for ryots at railway stations

Staff Reporter

Cold storage, transport facilities to be provided

HYDERABAD: After promoting "kullars" to help rural artisans, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said here on Saturday that the infrastructure available in the 7,500 railway stations across the country would be utilised to provide cold storage and transport facilities to farmers.

Speaking at the Ruby Jubilee celebrations of the South Central Railway here, he announced that global tenders would be invited for establishing processing and cold storage facilities in land available near railway stations. Proposals were also afoot to attach pre-cooled containers to trains for transport of perishables. In his inimitable style, Mr. Prasad said amid applause that people could buy footwear in air-conditioned showrooms but farm produce was sold on the footpaths, which meant showing disrespect to farmers. He said that even the sea route could be utilised to facilitate marketing of farm produce globally.

"Indian Railways has a surplus of Rs. 13,500 crore and the way we are going, after the turnaround, we are confident of touching the Rs. 20,000- crore mark by the end of the current fiscal. We will use our resources to improve the lot of our farmers," he said, and added that the Railways would soon reach the No. 1 position in the world from the present No. 3.

Fare reduction

He said that belying popular perception that every budget meant a fare hike, the Government had reduced fares and brought rail travel closer to the common man. Referring to the recently introduced `Garib Rath' trains, he said one such train would come to Andhra Pradesh soon.

As for infrastructure, there was no shortage of funds, especially when States could match 50 per cent of the cost.

SCR General Manager D.N. Mathur presided over the celebrations.

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