Railways (Amendment) Bill a move to privatisation, says Opp

Congress MP Manoj Kumar said that this Bill, if passed, will have a negative impact on the autonomy of railways. This Bill also increases potential for privatisation, he said.

However, BJP’s Ravi Kishan said that the Bill is aimed at making the railway’s legal framework simple. He said railways is also a social responsibility.

Samajwadi Party member Neeraj Maurya urged the minister not to take the railways towards privatisation. It would have been better if the minister had consulted an all-party meeting before bringing this Bill, he said.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee expressed concern over rail accidents and suggested that the government reduce the Indian Railways’ operating cost and improve passenger amenities.

Participating in the day-long debate on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, several opposition members, including NK Premachandran of the RSP, demanded that the government resume offering rail fare concessions to senior citizens.

Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav demanded the resumption of concession in rail fares for journalists and SC/ST/OBC students appearing for examinations. Congress’s Gurjeet Singh Aujla alleged that the Bill, if passed, would end the Railway Board and promote privatisation. He said people were apprehensive that the Centre would privatise the railways.