Privatisation move irks CPM

The CPI(M) has welcomed the Railway Budget for not putting any additional burden on the people, but opposed the privatisation move contained therein.

A "disconcerting aspect" of the Budget was the proposals concerning public-private partnership in the railways, CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement today.

There were suggestions to privatise the maintenance and cleaning of stations, ticketing centres and outsourcing the modernisation of various aspects of the railways to private parties.

This had been done despite the fact that public sector units under the railways were perfectly capable of undertaking these tasks.

Clearly, the Budget seemed to be implementing the controversial Rakesh Mohan Committee recommendations which suggested the virtual privatisation of the entire railways, it said. "This is not acceptable," said the party.