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“We will increase daily passenger carrying capacity of Railway from 21 millions to 30 millions in next five years.”   It means that he has to increase capacity by 1.8 million each year. For achieving this target, he will have to introduce a minimum of 1,000 trains per year. What is the present reality? Not a single train has been announced in this year’s Budget. Without starting new trains, how can he enhance the capacity? He may please explain this.
          Indian Railways has always represented the hope of a Bharat which is less privileged and not less aspirational. For millions of people, Railway Budget is an instrument which directly impacts their lives. In our State, Kerala, announcement of a new train is celebrated like a national festival. We, the Members of Parliaments, are demanding from the hon. Minister to start new trains not for becoming popular, but for fulfilling the aspirations of millions of people we represent. Hon. Minister has killed the hopes and aspirations of those poor people by not announcing any train in the Budget.
          In this condition, the new Railway Minister came on board. Mr. Prabhu is a man who has had some bold far reaching reforms in the electricity sector. When he came on board, I was very hopeful. He would undertake the bold reforms that was required to ensure that Railways come on board, come on the path to recovery; and remain with us in the decades to come to serve the people of our great nation. On that front, he has shown some courage. The fact that he has spent his attention and his resources to the much needed augmentation of capacity and infrastructure at the cost of populace measures such as providing new trains, providing new trains, announcing new projects in a condition where it is well known that the existing projects would take next five or seven years to be completed. I thank, for that.  I must congratulate  him. It is a bold step; a much required, a much necessary step, which he has shown the courage to do. However – and there is always a however – according to his own Budget Estimates, he has to invest over Rs.1 lakh crore in just bringing the Railways up to a decent safety standard. 
          It is also a very serious concern that the hike in freight rate from 2% to 10% was not included in the budget speech of railway minister. Concealing such important and declaring soaps such as seats for the pregnant women and elderly, mobile phone charging facility in general compartments, operation five minutes for issuing  unreserved tickets, hot buttons, coin vending machines, single destination teller, concessional e-tickets for differently abled travelers, developing a multi-lingual e-portal, crediting of refunds through banks, unreserved tickets on smart phones, are nothing  but an eyewash to dupe the parliamentarians and the general public. It is also worth noting that the technological upgradation does not involve huge financial burden. More important issues are new trains, new railway lines, freight charge, etc. The increase in freight charge will have cascading effects on agriculture production. For example, the freight movement charge of urea by 10% will cost dearer for agricultural production The remote consumer states such as Kerala will have to bear the maximum brunt of increase in freight charge for grains and pulses  for 10 percent. Besides that the hike in freight charge for cement and iron or steel, oils, coal, bitumen and coal tar etc. will further weakens the infrastructure development. The decision to increase the freight charge will fail to attract the freight movement by road and ultimately incur losses for the railway. It will further aggravate inflation and a travesty of   the presidential address which vehemently speak tall for an inclusive economy. Again, there is not declaration on new trains, railway lines and project. The vagueness and concealment of facts and smoke screening it with declaration of popular amenities deprive  the right parliamentarians to raise opposition in the Lok Sabha. It evidently reflects the totalitarian and authoritarian attitude of Shri Narendra Modi government and it is antithetical to the democratic ethos of our consritution and tradition.

          I appreciate the concern of the hon. Minister of Railways for not increasing the railway fares as it affects a lot of people who choose to travel by train.  Though it is a welcome step, the hon. Minister has ignored the recommendation of D.K. Mittal Committee for hike in fares.

          I would like to highlight one more point.  The Minister has not introduced any new train.  It is a welcome measure.  It is time now to comply with the announcements for new trains made in previous Budgets. Many new trains that were announced in the previous Budgets are yet to run on tracks.  It is time to strengthen the track infrastructure.  In this connection, a former Railway Board member has observed that a passenger train earns only Rs.450 per Km. at the most against Rs.4,500 per Km. by the goods train.  It means that the Government is fully committed to develop freight corridors and ignore passenger traffic.