|
| Mamata blames Naxals for railways' loss |
| BS Reporter / New Delhi Mar 12, 2010, 00:51 IST |
|
Indicating a further shift away from her apparent “sympathy for Naxals”, railway minister Mamata Banerjee today blamed them for its revenue loss.
“Forty per cent business of the railways is lost because of bandh by the Naxals. They call bandh for three-four days and don’t allow the trains to run,” Banerjee told the Rajya Sabha while replying to a debate on the Railway Budget.
While the statement is more political in nature, figures provided in the Railway Budget may not support Banerjee’s claim. Documents show total traffic receipts fell short marginally by Rs 64 crore from the projected Rs 88,419 crore to the revised estimate of Rs 88,355 crore. Freight earnings exceeded the target of Rs 58,525 crore by Rs 191 crore. Passenger earnings for 2009-10 are revised at Rs 24,057 crore as against the budget target of Rs 24,309 crore (-Rs 251 crore). Earnings from other coaching (parcel services) were Rs 2,526 crore against the original target of Rs 2,750 crore. Sundry earnings registered an increase of Rs 222 crore at Rs 2,981 crore against the target of Rs 2,760 crore.
But, Banerjee’s assertions come at a time when her party is perceived as “soft on Naxals” for its repeated plea to stop the ongoing armed operations in West Bengal against the Naxals. The CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal had launched a campaign to show Banerjee’s party has a nexus with the Naxals.
Perturbed that these external disturbances are hampering the performance of the railways, Banerjee added, “Madhavrao Scindia (former Railway Minister) didn’t have to face the Naxals and terrorist problems. I urge upon all members in this House to look into the issue why these bandhs are called.”
Banerjee also announced that she has set her priorities on completion of projects on time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Read Business news in |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Content Guide
