Saturday, March 18 2006 15:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Parliament today (Mar 18 2006) approved the Railway budget for 2006-07 with Rajya Sabha returning the relevant Appropriation Bills by a voice vote.

The budget, which estimates Gross traffic receipts (GTRs) at Rs.59, 978 crores and ordinary working expenses at Rs.38,300 crores for the next fiscal, was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.

Replying to the debate, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said the government has decided not to scrap ongoing projects though this would require an additional Rs 25,000 crores in the next few years.

The Minister said he had spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard and suggested separate funding or loan arrangement to raise funds for the purpose.

The Minister also assured members that there was no intention to privatise the Railways "either now or in future."

Prasad said iron scrap worth Rs 2500 crore lying with the Railways will be utilised for its four wheel factories. The Rail Wheel factory Chapra in Bihar alone would require 64,000 tonnes of scrap.

The Minister said even the scrap excess would be sold in a transperant manner through bidding process.

The budget, among other things, estimates revenues in freight, passenger, other coaching and earning segments to be Rs.40,320 crores, Rs.16,800 crores, Rs.1400 crores and Rs.1308 crores respectively.

Appropriation to Pension Fund and Depreciation Reserve Fund will be Rs.7,790 crores and Rs.4,307 crores respectively, Prasad said.

Internal generation before dividend has been estimated at Rs.14,293 crores while operating ratio is expected to be 84.3 per cent in 2006-07.

The Minister assured members that the Railways is open to extending the dedicated freight corridor to other states depending on the potential for carrying goods.

He said the Railways had a commercial bent of mind to improve the performance of freight carriage.

The Minister said the decision to convert many trains to superfast category was aimed at increasing their speed for the benefit of passengers.

Prasad asked the state governments to help in maintaining the law and order near rail tracks to prevent incidents such as the recent seizure of a train by naxalites in Jharkhand.

He said the Railway force was also doing its bit in this regard to check naxal attacks in vulnerable places such as Mughalsarai and Jharkhand.

The Minister said there was no discrimination against any state while making provisions or allocations in the Rail Budget.

Earlier, initiating the debate, P G Narayanan (AIADMK) charged the Centre with discrimination against southern states with regard to big development projects.

"This Government, including the Railway Ministry, is determined to see that no developmental project comes up in southern India," he said.

Narayanan said DMK, a UPA ally at the Centre, has failed to get Chennai included in the first phase of the freight corridor project.

Silvius Condpan (Cong) demanded that the Railways should double the track at least upto Guwahati if not upto Tansukia and sought speedy completion of Bagibil rail and road bridge.

Alladi P Rajkumar (TDP) demanded a train service connecting Hyderabad with Tirupati and Shirdi and another train service between Delhi and Tirupati. "Lord Balaji will then bless Laluji," he said.

Santosh Bagrodia (Cong) demanded freight facilities for small traders.

Lekhraj Bachani (BJP) sought resumption of Ahmedabad-Delhi Janata Express train.

Matilal Sarkar (CPM) wanted more railway projects in the northeast, particularly Tripura.

Shammuga Sundaram (DMK) favoured doubling of tracks in Tuticorin section in Tamil Nadu and starting of circular and metro rail service in Chennai.

Moolchand Meena (Cong) said there was need for expansion of rail network in Rajasthan and sought more Central funds for the purpose.

Abani Roy (RSP), Motilal Vohra (CONG), Alka Balram Kshtriya (CONG), Ramnath Kovind (BJP) and C Perumal also spoke.