March 17, 2025
Lok Sabha MP June Maliah’s speech on the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways for 2025-26
Madam. I rise to speak on the Demands for Grants of Railways for the financial year 2025-26. While this Government claims to be modernising the railways, the reality is that our railway system is still plagued by delayed projects, poor infrastructure, declining safety standards and passenger inconvenience. Indian railways is the lifeline of our nation, carrying millions of passengers everyday. It is a symbol of connectivity, economic growth and national integration. However, the manner in which the railway sector is being managed raises serious concerns. This Budget is long on promises but short on delivery. It fails to address some of the most pressing issues that impact passengers, railway employees, and freight transporters. Madam, let us start with the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which was launched to modernise railway stations across the country. While the Government made grand announcements about station re-development and better passenger amenities, on ground, the progress is painfully slow. According to a recent report by the Telegraph, the Union Budget for the year 2025-2026 has allocated Rs. 13,950 crore for railway projects in West Bengal, as told by our hon. Railway Minister. The report also says that our hon. Prime Minister has undertaken a mission to modernise and expand the railway network in West Bengal, to build new stations, improve passenger amenities and run new trains. Madam, the State currently has Rs. 68,000 crore of investment in railways. Although our hon. Railway Minister boasts that the allocation made by our hon. Prime Minister is three times more than that was made by Shrimati Mamta Banerjee during her tenure as the Union Railway Minister, he did not give a clear break-up of the allocation for the individual reports, thus making it nontransparent. Our hon. Railway Minister has informed that 101 stations in West Bengal are being modernized under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme which was introduced in the year 2022. Despite the allocation of Rs. 1,503 crore in the financial year 2023, for the redevelopment of 37 railway stations across the State, there has been little or no visible progress. Let us take the Medinipur, Kharagpur and Salboni railway stations, which fall in my Lok Sabha constituency, as examples. The work is progressing at a snail’s pace, and the passengers continue to suffer from inadequate facilities. The promised underpasses and road over-bridges at Dantan, Belda and Medinipur remain stuck in bureaucratic delays. Despite repeated assurances, there is no visible progress on these critical projects. This raises a fundamental question. If the Central Government cannot complete the on-going projects efficiently, how can we trust its big promises for the future? Another major issue that has been completely ignored is train delays. In the Adra division, the passenger and express trains have been consistently running late for over a year. Important trains like the Howrah-Purulia Express and Bhadrak Express are facing severe delays, causing problems for thousands of daily commuters. Despite repeated complaints from passengers, the Government has done nothing to address the root causes of these delays. Instead of investing in better scheduling, improved signalling and track maintenance, the budget only talks about expanding new routes without fixing the problems on existing ones. If the Government truly wants to improve railways, it must first fix the existing network before making tall promises about expansion. In many places where railway projects are being completed, quality is a major issue. Take the railway underpasses in Salboni, which is in my Lok Sabha constituency. These structures, which should last for at least decades, are already crumbling within six months to a year. The corruption and poor execution have led to structurally weak railway projects, which are not only a waste of public money but also a serious safety hazard. Why is the Government not taking strict action against contractors and officials responsible for such sub-standard work? Why is there no accountability for taxpayers’ money? The Government fails to address corruption, and inefficiency that plague railway construction and maintenance. Another issue that must be addressed is the inhuman eviction of railway colony residents in Kharagpur and other railway towns. Many families have been living in railway quarters for over 50 years, yet they are now being forcibly evicted without any proper rehabilitation plan. These are railway employees, daily wage workers, and their families who have nowhere else to go. If the Government wants to reclaim land for development, it must first ensure a human and fair relocation plan for these residents. Instead, the railway authorities are using harsh eviction tactics, ignoring the basic human rights of these people. This kind of insensitive policymaking is unacceptable, and must be strongly opposed. Madam, I want to raise concerns about the gradual privatisation of Indian Railways. While the Government claims that privatisation will improve efficiency in reality, it is making train travel more expensive for common people. Introduction of premium trains at high fares, while neglecting affordable sleeper class travel, is a clear sign that the Government is favouring elite passengers over the common man. Rather than strengthening the public railway system, this Government is pushing private investment at the cost of affordability. This is not the vision that the Indian Railways was built upon. Before I finish, I would like to say that the hon. Railway Minister is quick to criticise Ms. Mamata Banerjee and her tenure as a Railway Minister, but let me remind him that Ms. Mamata Banerjee’s tenure is remembered for passenger-friendly policies, introduction of new trains, and a focus on affordable travel. Her initiatives, especially, Duronto Express, Garibrath, and women’s safety measures remain a significant contribution to the Indian Railways. She promoted early trials of ACD (AntiCollision Devices) which later evolved to more advanced technologies like Kavach. She allocated higher funds for track maintenance and accident prevention measures. Her tenure saw the introduction of better signalling systems and CCTV surveillance at key stations. These are just a few of the many things that she did as the Railway Minister. Lastly, hon. Chairperson, I would say that the Indian Railways is not just a mode of transport but it is the backbone of our economy and a symbol of national integration. The lifeline of our nation cannot run on empty promises and delayed projects. If this Government truly cares about railways, let action speak louder than words because development is not measured by announcements but by execution. This Budget lacks the urgency, vision, and accountability that Indian Railways desperately needs. Until real reforms are prioritised, we cannot, in good conscience, support the Demands for Grants. Thank you! Jai Hind! Jai Bangla! Jai Midnapore!
