New Delhi (PTI) The CPI(M) on Friday said Mamata Banerjee had prepared the Rail Budget with the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections in mind.
"Yes, it is almost that," senior CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia told reporters when asked whether the budget was the Trinamool Congress' manifesto for the Assembly polls.
However, Mr. Acharia and CPI National Secretary D. Raja welcomed several "positive" features like no raise in passenger fares or freight charges and the concessions given to various sections of people.
"The new trains, most of them for Bengal, have been announced keeping these elections in mind. ... Most of the new trains announced outside Bengal were announced by (her predecessor) Lalu Prasad earlier," Mr. Acharia said.
Mamata presents Railway Budget
Referring to the announcement of constructing a 1000 MW power plant, he said "without acquiring land at Adra, she has proposed building of this power plant. It is a big project which will require at least 1,000 acres of land."
"I don't know how she will acquire land for this. She has been opposing land acquisition and now she proposes land acquisition," the CPI(M) leader said.
Mr. Raja described the budget as "over-enthusiastic and ambitious" and said "we don't know how she will implement all these measures."
But the CPI leader said the budget would not adversely affect the common man and welcomed its "positive" aspects like concessions and facilities to those having a monthly income below Rs 1,500, students and women.
Mr. Acharia, who was also Chairman of the Railway Standing Committee, said Ms. Banerjee had admitted that railways had been impacted by the economic slowdown but there was no step to improve resource mobilisation and financial performance.
He said a major thrust was to "hand over" massive railway property to private parties through the public-private participation mode.
While several new trains have been introduced, phasing out of old coaches and acquisition of new ones have not been given much importance. The target of new rail lines for 2009-10 was less than the previous year, he said, adding "the amount for new rail track projects has been doubled but the target reduced drastically".
"Starting non-stop trains is a good idea, but will these trains reduce travel time and attract air passengers? If yes, then for such trains, you need modern coaches and new tracks. Are these ready?," Mr. Acharia asked and added that the average speed of Indian trains was only 46 km per hour.
The CPI(M) leader said there was also no step to increase the market share of railways, which was 35 per cent for freight and passenger traffic with most of the remaining traffic being handled by roadways.
