Railways to stop ferrying foodgrains of private players: Lalu

New Delhi, Apr 17 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav today announced that the Railways will stop carrying foodgrains of private players to put a check on inflation.

Replying to the debate on the Demands for Grants (Railways) for 2008-09, Mr Yadav also announced that Mudhubani paintings will be stuck inside trains and all railway offices, as desired by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

He said the tendering for the Eastern part of freight corridor would start in May, and funds will not come in the way of the project.

He also maintained that the Government was against privatisation of the Railways, and vowed to take the Railway turnover to one lakh crore by the end of the UPA Government's five year term from the present more than 60,000 crore.

The Demands for Grants were later passed by voice vote with all the six cut motions negated.

The House also passed the Appropriation Bill, allowing the Railways to withdraw money for expenses till March 31, 2009 from the Consolidated Fund of India.

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