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New Delhi: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on
Wednesday presented the ''Railway Budget 2010'' in the parliament
saying, her ministry has come out with ''Vision 2020'' to modernise the
railway network.
"I prefer social responsibility to economic responsibility
and Our objective is
inclusive growth", she
said in her marathon
110-minute speech.
Banerjee said, the railways need to catch up with the advanced
western nations, adding that the policy guidelines would be made
easier and hassle-free.
Railways will not be privatized, she said, adding that in the next
five years the whiole country would be connected by rail.
At the same time, Banerjee called on the India Inc to build partnership with the
Railways.
Meanwhile, passengers were spared a fare hike, freight rates were
lowered for some essential items and 52 new trains announced in
India’s rail budget for 2010-11 that promises a new model to promote
private investment in expanding the world’s second largest railroad
network under a single management.
“We have saved Rs.2,000 crore ($40 million) because of the hard work
of our employees and austerity measures. There will be no increase
in passenger fares,” Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee told the Lok
Sabha, the lower house of parliament.
Accordingly, she also announced a cut
in freight tariff for kerosene and grain, upgrade of 94 stations,
522 diagnostic centres, target of 1,000 km new lines, 10 auto
ancillary hubs, several high-speed passenger rail corridors, six new
drinking water plants and housing for all railway staff in 10 years.
“We have set our goals in the Vision
2020 document and we will achieve it,” the minister said, referring
to the document unveiled in December that has targeted making over
30,000 km of routes into double or multiple lines against 18,000 km
today.
“It is a fact that administrative and
procedural delays discourage potential investors. We will need to
overcome this. I am setting up a special task force for this,” said
the minister, dressed in a white and green sari and her trademark
rubber slippers.
“Special structure will be created for
the new business model,” she said, emphasising: “But we will not
privatise railways. Indian Railways will remain with the
government.”
At the same time, she also asked the
private sector to refrain from what she called the “typical negative
approach” while dealing with the Indian Railways. “I am sorry to say
this — this mindset has to change.
The minister also announced that the exams for the recruitment in
Railway would be conducted in the regional languages as well, adding
that English, Hindi, Urdu and other regional languages will be used
for Railway entrance exams.
Banerjee said that we have kept our earlier promises and out of 120
trains that were proposed by our ministry, 107 trains were started
on time.
She announced that six-bottling points would be set for manufacture
of water that will be supplied, adding that the food that is
provided to the passengers has also improved over the years.
Village panchayats, hospitals and court would have a e-ticket
counter proposed Banerjee, adding that a railway counter would also
be set up at the office of the District Magistrate.
Railway is all determined to ensure safety measures, she claimed
adding that a ''chowkidaar'' would be placed at every railway
crossing in the next five years.
Cleanliness of the railway has improved over the years, claimed
Banerjee adding that Rs 1302 crores would be spent for the safety of
passengers.
Railways would also set up five sports academy, she
said adding that it would become link partners of the Commonwealth
Games.
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