New Rail Coach Factory to be set up at Rae Bareli

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) The Government has decide to set up a new Rail Coach Factory at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, said Railway Minister Lalu Prasad while replying to the supplementary demand for Railways in the Lok Sabha today.

Mr Prasad made it clear that there was no question of privatisation of the Railways though there were people who were of the view that it should be handed over to the private sector for better running.

He said during his recent visit to some of the European countries he noticed that though everything was privatised in those countries they are still running at the subsidy of the Government and they were all running in losses.

Mr Prasad further announced that his Ministry would set up an Engine Factory at Chhapra in Saran district of Bihar.

He said the Indian Railway was now exporting engines to a large number of countries.

He said the organisation, which was said to be in the red, had not only made a turnaround but also earned a profit of Rs 13,000 crore this year. They have planned to earn a profit of Rs 20,000 crore for next year, he asserted.

Mr Prasad further informed that they have decided to float global tenders very soon for making a number of stations up to world class standard. He said in all those stations the entire underground area would be utilised for commercial purposes like parking, restaurants and shopping malls.

Earlier, Mr Prasad expressed his gratitude to all those 40 MPs for participating in the Railways Supplementary Demand for Grants but did not reply to any of the points raised by the members.

Earlier, Dr Satya Narayan Jatia (BJP), Mr Bharatruhari Mehatab (BJD), Dr R K Kusmari (BJP), Dr Karan Singh Yadav (Cong), Vanlalzawma (MNF), Mr K Manjunathan Channapa (BJP), Mr Jassu Bhai Dhanbhai Barad(Cong) and Mr Tapir Gao (BJP) participated in the discussion.

Eds: Pls pick suitably from earlier series.

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