NEW DELHI: The Railways will require Rs 60,000 crore to complete its various proposed modernisation and infrastructure development projects to achieve the targeted growth rate of 9%, railway minister Lalu Prasad said on Tuesday.
Addressing members of the consultative committee attached to his ministry, he said that despite registering a growth rate of 14% in passenger earnings and 17% in freight earnings, and achieving a surplus of Rs 20,000 crore in 2006-07, railways would need more funds to complete the existing projects in a time bound manner.
He also said that money was required for improving security at the railway stations. Taking note of complaints of general public about poor cleanliness standard of stations and trains, Prasad said his ministry had decided to observe this year as "railway cleanliness year."
On MPs' reservation over the move to privatise railways through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, he denied that his ministry had any such policy of introducing privatisation.
Source : TOI
Addressing members of the consultative committee attached to his ministry, he said that despite registering a growth rate of 14% in passenger earnings and 17% in freight earnings, and achieving a surplus of Rs 20,000 crore in 2006-07, railways would need more funds to complete the existing projects in a time bound manner.
He also said that money was required for improving security at the railway stations. Taking note of complaints of general public about poor cleanliness standard of stations and trains, Prasad said his ministry had decided to observe this year as "railway cleanliness year."
On MPs' reservation over the move to privatise railways through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, he denied that his ministry had any such policy of introducing privatisation.
Source : TOI