Major changes planned in railways sector: Gowda

Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Saturday said he intended to bring major changes in the railway sector and he would focus on the 'four S': Safety, service, security and speed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already proposed bringing in speed trains and bullet trains, he said.

Gowda said his predecessor Mallikarjuna Khargee had put a burden on him by announcing an increase of 10 per cent rise in railway rate and five per cent rise in freight rate and not implementing these.

He said the responsibility vested in him was huge. The railway sector has 13.2 lakh employees and he needed at least a month to study the sector.

On his first visit to the district after assuming the post of railway minister, Gowda said he was extremely fortunate to work alongside Modi in his cabinet. Addressing party workers at the BJP district office here, Gowda said the people wished to see a change in the country.

"This change has taken place with the help of BJP workers and the Sangh Parivar," he said.