Rajya Sabha members raise concern over railways' poor

Several Rajya Sabha members on Tuesday raised concerns over the poor financial health of the railways, decline in job opportunities and delay in execution of major projects, besides privatisation of the national transporter.

Participating in a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Railways, several members referred to the large number of vacancies in the railways and said these should be filled up, thereby providing job opportunities to the young generation.

Binoy Viswam of the CPI said the railways has around three lakh vacancies and these should be filled up.

Opposing privatisation of trains and stations, he said the national transporter has "forgotten its social aspect and social commitment".

V Vijayasai Reddy of the YSRCP said the railways now has an operating ratio of 98.4 per cent, which is the worst in last 10 years.

Moreover, the railways' revenue surplus is also falling and suggested that "priority should be given to augmentation of its internal resources."
He, however, supported PPP model in the railways, saying "we should be open minded."
Mir Mohammad Fayaz of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party said, "We do not want bullet train. We should be contended with rail connectivity with the rest of the network."