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Coming to another problem of the Railways, there are four to five lobbies in different disciplines in the Railways. There is a Mechanical lobby, there is a Traffic lobby, there are Civil Engineers and there are Electrical Engineers. I have seen each one fighting for its own empire. Not knowing all this, I was sympathising with the Electrical Engineers. Now I think the turn has come their way. They have come out with the idea of the Railways establishing power stations. What for? Each Department has the sole objective of building its own empire. Why do you need these power stations? There are State Electricity Boards. There is NTPC also. So, why do you want to go into this venture? Where is the money coming for this? You always cry that there is no money for safety and security. Yet, you are planning to invest money on this, that too when power is available. Particularly with the new technology that the Railways have acquired, you do not need this. On every railway traction the diesel locomotives can work and can haul both freight and passenger trains of any length and capacity. These are areas where you want to invest money without any rationale behind it. I do not know whether it is wise for you to do it.

As per the statistics given in this Status Paper, the route kilometres are lagging behind. The major chunk of the network was actually done during the pre-Independence period. As per the Foreword given by the hon. Minister in the Status Paper in May, 1998, the Indian railways are the nation’s lifeline. The Status Paper attempts to answer the main issues faced by the Railways and also challenges the Railways. The Railway Minister has assured that he is trying to solve these issues and take the Railways along the path of growth. In the Status Paper, investment trends are given very clearly. The issues are identified and some of the solutions have also been contemplated.

Regarding the investment trends, one important point I would like to bring before this House is that capital from general exchequer has actually dwindled very much during the Ninth Plan. The Ninth Plan is actually coinciding with the BJP Government’s four years. In the Eighth Plan if it was 42 per cent as per the Status Paper, it has come down to 22 per cent in 1998-99, that is, the year when the Status Paper was actually presented. This I would like to compare with the Defence budgetary provision. I do not mind being called anti-national, if anybody feels so, because I am criticising that the Railway is not given as much importance as the Defence. You may disagree with me, but I do feel that the railways are also very important as a lifeline of our great nation, which is actually of a pluralistic nature. So, railways should be given more importance when the General Budgetary provision is made. Defence is getting the priority which naturally it deserves. But when Defence is given more priority, it should not mean that a Department like Railways should be neglected.

With these words, I conclude and thank the hon. Minister again for his support to sports.

__________ SHRI P.S. GADHAVI (KUTCH): Sir, I rise to support the Railway Budget presented by the hon. Railway Minister. Indian Railways are the lifeline of the nation. This year’s Budget will mark the 150th year of Railways’ dedication and glorious service to the nation. During these years, Railways have grown from 32 route kilometres to a vast network of more than 62,000 route kilometres. This year, Railways can play a very vital role in the development of tourism of the whole country when the railway is going to celebrate the 150th year. At the same time, I would request the hon. Railway Minister to see that our important places of pilgrimage and heritage centres may be given more boosting so that tourism can also be developed in this year.