BJP flays Rail Budget in RS

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) Members in the Rajya Sabha today criticised this year's Railways Budget proposals -- and Ralways Minister Lalu Prasad -- for creating regional imbalances and neglecting revenue generating measures capable of further pulling up this major transport artery of the nation.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, especially, flayed the Rail Budget proposals 2007-08 -- and Minister Yadav -- for ''creating regional imbalances'' by neglecting the high-revenue- generating Southern states and overlooking critical issues like safety and security on trains.

Participating in the discussion on the Budget as well as a Government Resolution relating to the Fifth Report of the Railway Convention Committee -- both taken together, Members were generally critical of shortcomings in the functioning of the Railways -- like lack of amenities at stations and in trains -- and favoured commencement of train-services in their respective states.

Initiating the discussion, BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said the turnaround that the Railways were witnessing was due to the efforts made during the previous National Democratic Alliance Government led by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee. ''The present Government is laying claim to the benefits accruing out of the solid foundation laid by former Railways Minister Nitish Kumar,'' he averred.

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