People's Democracy

�Implement Rail Projects In Time-Bound Manner�

TAKING note of the announcements made by the union minister of railways regarding several new trains, projects, concessions, passenger amenities, etc in the 2009-10 railway budget, the CITU has expressed hope that the same will be implemented in right earnest, in a time bound manner. It also hoped that the earlier decision of the railways to close down several printing presses would be scrapped.

Through a statement issued on July 3, the CITU has also regretted that takeover of the ailing public sector wagon making units --- of Burn Standard and of Braithwait --- by the railways has not progressed further. It was in the interim rail budget on February 13 when the earlier the railway minister had informed that the transfer of these units would be discussed with the ministry of heavy industries. The CITU urged the railway ministry to make a time bound programme for the takeover now.

Keeping the above in view, the CITU has urged that all promises given in the rail budget must be reviewed in terms of �outcome� once a year, before the next budget. For, on many occasions over years, it has been observed that every budget declares some new sops which remain unfulfilled. This can be seen from the pending incomplete railway projects/schemes.

Though the interim rail budget showed impressive financial results which could be used to back the future railway projects and innovative measures, the CITU expressed regrets that the new budget has given all-out emphasis on public private partnership (PPP) in all the new schemes now introduced, including the dedicated freight corridor. The budget speech does not have a single word for the lakhs of contract workers, their wages and social security as well as about rampant outsourcing of job in the railways. More than one lakh posts are lying vacant in the railways but the budget is eloquently silent on filling up these posts for which millions of unemployed youth in the country are waiting.

The CITU has cautioned the government on the financial performance of the railways, as the operating ratio has already gone up from 88 to 90 per cent within three months. They must see that the railways� pitiable techno-economic situation of 2001 is not repeated. (INN)