Now,Rly staff seek bailout package

Supporting Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedis demand,railway workers have appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a Rs 50,000 crore bailout package

Supporting Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedis demand,railway workers have appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a Rs 50,000 crore bailout package.

The All India Railwaymens Federation (AIRF) has written to the PM on the miserable state of Railways finances. Drawing parallels with Air India,Shiv Gopal Mishra,AIRF general secretary,wrote: We appeal to you to consider similar help to Railways,the lifeline of the country catering to crores of common people.

While the Railways received Rs 20,000 crore as gross budgetary support from the Centre,the AIRF said much more was needed to cover subsidies and aid critical pending projects. The letter has also sought a waiver of the dividend Railways pays to the government.

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Last year,the AIRF had written a similar letter to the Railway Minister seeking an increase in passenger fares.

Trivedi has been vocal about the need for funds infusion into the Railways. Recently,the Finance Ministry approved a loan of Rs 3,000 crore,although sources said the original request was for Rs 10,000 crore.

Trivedi has said that the department requires funds to the tune of Rs 14 lakh crore to complete all projects and completely modernise the age-old system.