MONITORING COMMITTEE to look into problems of Railways and for development and implementation of the Railway projects is to be set up in every State, said Union Railway Minister Mamata Bannerji in Rajya Sabha here today. An announcement in this regard will soon be made, she added.
In her reply to a debate on the Railway Budget, she allayed the fears of the Members that the Railways was moving towards privatisation by affirming that the department was not going to sell any of its property nor take any step against the interests of its 16 lakh employees.
Regarding commercial utilisation of the Railway land, she said, Railways was going to give only "right of way" on its land and air space. "Railway land is an asset" and this step was being taken due to paucity of funds. Development of Railways means economic prosperity of the country, she said.
"Instead of selling property we are going to go in for joint ventures. We are open to State governments, private sector, public sector taking up new projects," she said.
Almost all Members who spoke during the debate were appreciative of Ms Mamata Bannerji's "soft budget" and sparing the common man by not increasing the passenger fare. However, most of them were highly critical of the service and the amenities being provided by the Railways.
