People's Democracy

THE CPI(M) has totally opposed the creation of a new zone- namely East Central Zone by bifurcating Eastern Railways.

In press statement issued on July 3, the CPI(M) MP, Basudeb Acharya said while the Indian railways is the symbol of unity and integrity, this decision of ministry of railways will create division among the people. He demanded that the notification issued by the ministry of railways to create Eastern Central Railway should be withdrawn immediately & status-quo should be maintained.

He said that "already there are large numbers of projects which are pending for years together and for the completion of those projects there are no funds. Indian railways are carrying a huge number of over-aged rolling stock which are to be replaced for which there is no fund. More over minister of railways has not announced a new project in the current year railway budget as there is a severe resource crunch. But the minister is bent upon creating new zone which will involve huge amount of money, said Basudeb Acharya.

This action of the ministry will not help to make Indian railways more efficient. There is absolutely no justification for a new zone, he added. Saying that this is not a question of Bihar and West Bengal, Basudeb questioned how this move will improve the operational efficiency of Indian railways. He reminded that after the division of state of Bihar CPI(M) has been demanding for a special financial package for the state of Bihar- which is still not being sanctioned by the central government.

Giving the background he said, the ‘Railway Reforms Committee in 1983 had recommended the creation of only three zones, that too in a phased manner. That Committee had not recommended for bifurcation of Eastern Railway. In 1994, the Advisory Committee which was appointed by ministry of railways had recommended that there should not be more than four zones. It had also not recommended for bifurcation for eastern railway.’

In 1996, Archarya said, the railway minister announced the creation of six new zones and in 1998 another new zone was announced to be created. The Standing Committee on railways 1996-97 had recommended against the creation of new zones and severely criticized the action of ministry of railways.