Railways to set up new Locomotive and Rail Coach Factory

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) A new Locomotive Factory at Marhaura in Saran district of Bihar and a Rail Coach Factory at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh have been proposed for meeting the increasing traffic demand, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said here today.

With the coming up of these factories, the Railways will not only be getting more engines and coaches but also generate employment in those areas, he said while delivering the opening address at the Meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for MPs attached to his Ministry.

Besides, the railway stations at the four Metros and some big cities will be developed on world class standards, complete with modern facilities like shopping malls, food plazas and underground parking and others, he said.

There was also a plan to man maximum number of Railway crossings in the shortest possible time, Mr Prasad said.

The Railway Minister said it has been seen that either the proposed level crossings do not fulfil the prescribed parameters for construction of Road Over Bridges (ROBs)/Road Under Bridges (RUBs) or there is reluctance on the part of the State Governments to meet the 50 per cent expenditure to be paid by them on construction of such ROBs/RUBs.

Besides, demands are being raised for more level crossings, since immediately after the railway line is laid, villages and settlements come up in nearby areas.

To solve this serious problem and ensure safety at railway crossings, the Minister assured the members that some solution will be found at the next meeting of General Managers of Zonal Railways and the State Governments will also be consulted.

There are 16,600 manned and 18,297 unmanned level crossings in the country.

The Union Ministers of State for Railways Velu and Naranbhai J.

Rathwa, members of the Railway Board, other senior officials from the Railway Ministry and Konkan Railway Corporation were also present on the occasion.

Mr Prasad also said Railways had signed an MoU with the State Bank of India to set up 681 ATMs at various stations.

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