Nirupam says positive decision

The Centre's decision to hand over two central PSUs, Burn Standard and Braithwaite & Co, to the Railways was a 'very positive' development, West Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen said today.

"This is a very positive decision. It has been taken at the highest level. It was a (union) Cabinet decision. Now Railways will run it like its other units. The two units will be saved," he told reporters here.

Earlier, CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose had stated that the takeover of the two units by the Railways was the result of a long-drawn struggle by the workers led by CITU and other left trade unions.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had said yesterday that order for 500 wagons has been placed with Braithwaite by the Railway Board.

The Centre had given its nod for restructuring of engineering PSU Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam (BBUNL) to improve performance of units located in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

As part of restructuring, the administrative control of two subsidiaries of BBUNL - Burn Standard Company (BSCL) and Braithwaite & Co - were transferred to the Railways from the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Ministry.