More profit will be pooled in Railways: Lalu

Gorakhpur, May 25 (UNI) Railway minister Lalu Prasad announced to bring profit of rupees one lakh crore by introducing profit making budget in the next financial year.

After giving the green signal to the electronification of Barabanki-Gonda Gorakhpur railway section at Gorakhpur railway station here last night, Mr Prasad said, he will bring more profit to railways in the coming years.

Lauding efforts of the UPA government, he said ''even as diesal price were increased no changes were made in the ticket fares.'' ''When I was sworn as railway minister, the industry was running in loss, government was planning to send it in the hands of private players,'' Mr Prasad recalled.

However, after the UPA government came at the Centre, Railway department rejuvinated and is now rated amongst the top rail services in the world, he added.

He said inflation spiralled as petrol and diesal prices were hiked. Even as Railways purchases about one third of oil imported in the country no hike was made in ticket fares, he asserted.

However, electronic lines are being made in view of sky-rocketing diesal prices.

Apprising about the Gorakhpur electric line project, he said the Gorakhpur-Barabanki rail track is about 245 km, where electronic trains will be plying by the end of this fiscal year.

The project would totally cost about Rs 248 crores, he added.

Later, the Railway minister along with his family paid obeisance at Gorakhnath temple and Chath Mata temple in the city.

UNI PDM SY RN1856