Defending the Centre's decision to hike the railway fare by 14.2 per cent for passengers, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said railway was not in good situation and was in need of money and resources.
"Indian railways is not in good situation. It is in need of money, it is in need of resources.. (railway) tracks are very weak," Union Urban Development Minister Naidu said, while addressing a gathering, which offered felicitations to him on becoming a Union Minister.
Elaborating on the status of backlog works of the state-run enterprise, he said, "It will take at least 40 more years to lay railway lines that has already been promised. So many ministers have promised many railway lines, but they are yet to be started."
As the government was moving towards development, some "hard decisions" have to be made, he said, "If we need to go for growth, then we need to take hard decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got the moral capacity to take those hard decisions."
As Parliamentary Affairs Minister he said, "To me, Parliament is about three 'D's. Discuss, debate and decide. And not what the opposition wants to add, destruct. Congress has left the county in horrible shape. We need some time to set right everything."
"As Minister for Housing, I am working towards a goal of ensuring housing with power and sanitation for everyone before 2020," he added.
