March 17, 2025
Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee’s speech during the Discussion on the Working of the Ministry of Railways
Sir, the Minister tried to paint a rosy picture in the Parliament. He boasted that he had given thousands of crores of rupees to the States which are run by the nonBJP parties. Now, let me come to the percentage of the Railway expenditure State-wise. I will mention about three States, which are run by the non-BJP parties. In the pre-Modi era, if we look at the percentage of Railway expenditure ten years back for the State of Kerala, it was 1.43 per cent. Now, it has come down to 1.17 per cent. In Tamil Nadu, in pre-Modi regime, ten years ago, it was 3.38 per cent. It has come down now to 2.59 per cent. Now, I come to West Bengal. In the State of West Bengal ten years back, the percentage of Railway expenditure used to be 16.85, that means, almost 17 per cent. It has come down to 5.46 per cent. I repeat, from 16.85 per cent, it has come down to 5.46 per cent. The only reason is political vendetta. You cannot combat Mamata Banerjee. You cannot combat Abhishek Banerjee. So, you go on depriving the people of Bengal. The people of Bengal are being deprived. Now, I will mention as to what the priority of Government is. We are not against the bullet train. But, I want to know from the hon. Minister as to why the Railways have prioritized the bullet train over a dedicated freight corridor. While the bullet train costs Rupees 200 crore per kilometre, the dedicated freight corridor costs only Rupees 25 crore per kilometre and serves the common man by transporting vegetables, rice and other essential commodities. Now, I come to my next point. I want to know from the hon. Minister as to why the work in the third phase of the important Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, from Sonnagar in Bihar to Dhankuni in West Bengal, is yet to commence. Sir, it is yet to commence and it has been more than 12 years in spite of substantial land acquisition having been completed and the Government land also settled with the Railways. We are unable to understand as to why this is happening. Sir, the Government has stopped many schemes. Izzat pass has been stopped; Garib Rath has been stopped. Sir, you know, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, as Minister of Railways, had come up with a scheme for accredited journalists whereby journalists were issued photo identification-cum-credit cards by the Railways to get reservation and also a 50 per cent concession during their train travel. This was a very important scheme. And later, even the spouses of the journalists were given this facility for twice a year. During the Covid period, these facilities were taken away. The concession to the senior citizens has also been taken away. I will urge upon the Government that this scheme, which had been started by Ms. Mamata Banerjee, and from which the journalists in our country were immensely benefited, must be started again. The journalists and their families must get this concession. Sir, Railways, which is essentially a public transport, was meant to unite this country. Even during the British period, freedom fighters, revolutionaries have used the railways very effectively to unify the struggles of the common people against the British colonial yoke. But today, the Government has used it to create a gap between those who can afford speed and comfort and the others who cannot even find a seat. So, there is a big difference and this difference is amply clear. Railways is a public transport, and our leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, has been a very successful Railway Minister. When I speak the word ‘public’, it means, ‘People United for a Better Living In the Country’. This has been our slogan. Interestingly, enough protection of the public transport like Railways needs to be ensured, and, Ms. Mamata Banerjee has shown how the interests of the common people or the common public can be safeguarded. There are enough evidences of common people, this ‘public’, ‘People United for a Better Living In the Country’, protecting this public transport. Railway as a public transport must be protected. Let that be the priority of the Government. Thank you, Sir
