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"In the proud history of independent India, it is for the first time that the returns on the capital investment in the Railways will reach 21 per cent," the Railway Minister announced as he presented his fifth Rail Budget.
Prasad, drawing a parallel with the Shahrukh Khan starrer, which was based on the game of hockey, said: "We are scoring goal after goal in every match. Every child in the
country will now say 'Chak De Railway'."
The Railway Minister, whose inimitable sense of humour was well in place as he presented the Budget, launched himself into verse in Urdu to describe the much-talked-about turnaround of the railways.
"Sab kah rahe hain hum ne gazab kiya hai. Karodon ka munafa har ek sham diya hai. Phal salon mein ab dega paudha jo lagaya hai. Seva ka smaran ka hamne farz nibhaya hai," he said as the House burst into laughter and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was also seen laughing away.
The poetry was about the Railways doing wonders and earning crores as profits. "The sapling we planted will bear fruit now," Lalu said in the poem.
At the request of some members, he translated the poetry into his accented English, which again had the House in rapture. "They are saying that Lalu Yadav has planted a fruit tree and every year it is a duty of mine to grow fruit trees," he said in the translation. Chatterjee then said in Hindi that there would be no problems in the Railways.
The Budget speech was peppered with such humorous asides and poetry, not allowing the interest of the House to wane.
India Inc gives thumbs-up to Lalu's budget
Indian industry hailed Railway Budget 2008-09 as pragmatic and futuristic, saying the ongoing rationalisation of freight rates and lowering of fares would boost the growth momentum.
Terming the budget as anti-inflationary and progressive, the industry gave a thumbs-up to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad who, it felt, was on the right track by focusing on modernisation and expansion to transform the world's second largest transportation network into a modern and cost-efficient entity.
Welcoming the lowering of freight rates on petrol and diesel cargoes, industry chamber Confederation of Indian Industry said, "This reduction will help offset to some extent the impact of the hike in fuel prices".
However, oil companies are unlikely to pass on the benefits to the consumers as the gain on account of five per cent reduction in freight charges works out to a measly Rs 50 crore a year.
FICCI Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the announcement to cut rates by five per cent ‘is a good and strong anti-inflationary measure’. It also welcomed the Minister's proposal for mobilising Rs 1 lakh crore for improving the network through public-private partnership mode, stating that this would generate opportunities for India's private sector.
ASSOCHAM President Venugopal Dhoot said such measures would also help the Railways attract more traffic. The chamber, however, said some freight relaxations should have been extended to steel and cement industry as well.
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RatingDear Railway Minister, Hats off to you for turning around the railways.I wanted to cancelmy confirmed ticketPNR2511413409;2249062229 foronly part journeyfromHW to NZM and wanted to retain confirmedreservationNDLS toHYB but on 30/6/08,the bookingclerk atHW one GC Hitkari cancelled the full ticket saying part cannot be cancelled.TheChief Reservation Supervisor AK Sharma also sided his staff.I had to undertake the journey from NDLS to HYB by AIR due to the very irresponsible and arrogant behaviour of your reservation staff at HW stn. Iwas put to avoidable mental torture and wasteful expense to the tune of Rs 15000/- I want your intervention to plgive suitable punishment to the concerned staff so that they donot misbehave with any other passengerin future.Also I seek damages of Rs 15000/- as compensation from your railways for the untold stress i had to go through for no fault of mine:GKRawat,29A, Kachnar City, Vijaynagar, JABALPUR482002
I am happy to see the budget of Indian rail way which is amazing to me and all citizen of the country. Mr. Lalu ji, Minister of rail way who teach other ministries how we can do good and needful for the people of countryI congratulate Mr Lalu and his Ministry,done a wounderful job during his period.Thanks and regardsNitin Erry.
lalu ji pls give me the oppertunity in railway.I am sure that lalu ji can feel my troubles.
Respected Shri lalu persad ji i am very glade with your rail budget but sir i want to done some thing real in my life. I have no any words to say to govt of india because of this unemploment.I am pass 2 with first division
I am a phisically handicaped female . My qualification is MCA and I am searching for a new Job . pls help me
Dear Sir,I am a handicapped graduate person wanted to join a rail government jobs,If any jobs according to my qualification is vacant.pls .confirm me.RgdsAmbika Dutta MishraKolkataNote-Pls.also update me the jobs requirment.
Being a thief Lalu observed that the private rakes of coal were toped up to heaps visible on top of open wagons, PSU rakes were under loaded. Lalu understood that if over loaded private rakes can negotiate rail system then all rakes can be safely loaded to 10 tones more than certified capacity. In almost all the Railways, the pilot projects of permitting the wagons loaded up to CC 8 2 tonne and CC 6 2 tonne were commenced even without fulfilling the conditions of installation of in-motion weigh bridges and provision of Wheel Impact Load Detectors. Lalu over ruled all objections and earned much more revenue than all times.. Break up would be 20% increased capacity of rakes, 10% preventing pilferage, 30% return load and rest growth over five period. The 2nd class passenger earnings, (22% of total earnings) show a 1% dip between the budget and revised estimate for 2007-08. The Goods earnings (67%of total earnings) shows a inrease of 2%.The present budget figures on traffic receipts compared growth receipts are in single digits, or even shows a dip. The increase in total earnings between 08-09 budget and 07-08 is 2% but Lalu projects a 13 %
One only hopes that the Managements of the other ‘Sick’ public sector undertakings, with many of them still surviving only on regular and annual doses of Central Government Subsidies, learn a trick or two from Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadau’s mercurial and Creative persona so that they may also ‘Turn Around’ the sick units under their management. SHAHABUDDIN NADEEM
Through his mind-boggling and ‘Out of the Box’ ideas, measures and changes that he has ceaselessly introduced in to the very style of functioning, management, work culture and work ethics of the same set of Personnel who were producing gloomy results year after year before he took over as the Minister for Railways in the UPA government, he has proved his mettle as a Creatively best man to have occupied his current Ministerial Post! His lighter vein analogies of a ‘growing tree’ for the Indian Railways and that of an ‘art of nursing to health and milking a cow judiciously for optimum results’ - for his own management of the Railways during the last five years, that he made during his Budget Speech yesterday were quite opt and interesting.
Kudos once again to Railway Minister Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadau for repeating his unbelievable feat of presenting once again, a ‘Dream Railway Budget’ that may also be referred once again as a ‘People’s Budget’ too for the Fifth Time in Succession. Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadau needs to be commended whole-heartedly without mincing of words for repeating his feat of presenting once again, a ‘Dream Railway Budget’ that may also be referred once again as a ‘People’s Budget’ too for the Fifth Time in Succession. Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadau who, only a few years back and outside Bihar, was kwon only for his idiosyncrasies and had become a constant source of amusement for Non –Bihari’s in particular, through various real and imaginary anecdotes told endlessly and covered uncharitably by the Media too, has been making all his critics and detractors eat humble pie time and again – year after year by producing amazing results with the Indian Railways that once was as sick as many other public sector undertakings were and still are!
Every Minister's creditibility has to be guauged on his performances.If they do well then they deserve accolade irrespective of Caste, creed, religion, region he belongs to? If Lallu ji has done well in his job as a railway minister then he deserve a pat on his back from the Indian public. It is not easy to handle such a big ministry in India. It is said that never in the history of railways there was 21% return on the capital investment. First time after so many years railway has a surplus budget. First time the railways have reduced the passenger fare even if it is meagre sum of RS 50/-. This will definately help in curbing inflation rate to certain extend. Indian railway is the life line of Indian transporation system. It is a means of transport for the large poor and middle section of the people of India. If the trains are dirty and un hygenic then it is the people who are using this mode of transport and are responsible and not Lallu ji. He cannot go around with a stick to make people understand and keep the trains clean. The people has to understand their responsiblity and keep the public property clean. As for expanding the infracstructure is concern, Lallu ji will definately look into this and improve the infracstructure as well. Atleast he has shown his will to keep railways run on right track and make profit every year. We all need to assist him in his endeavour so that he keeps the railways on right track and run in profit every year. Keep up the good work Lallu ji.
i congratulate mr.lalu prasad yadav for presenting such a promising budget. the most important decisions being the promotion of the porters to the position of gangmen , the creation of green toilets , the concession for women senior citizen etc. i pray all these will be timely implemented.i would also like to add that the incidents of criminal activities like murder,theft misbehaving with female passengers etc inside the train running on certain routes have also been reported. The routes on which such activities take place must be identified and adequate security measures like deplyoying of armed pesonnel inside the coaches should be taken.we all would look forward to that day when our railways will become a model and a pride to use.great going railways!
Its Ok
Dear Sir, Some body has rightly said "My happiness is in thy pleasures" My happiest moments were the moments when Mr. Lalu Jee was presenting the Railway Budget for the Year 2008-09. Not because (i) reduction in rail fares (ii) not for installation of CCTVs (iii)TV, internet services , reduced fares for senior citizens etc. but for the reasons that Sh Lalu Jee made Mr. Chatterjee, Our Speaker , Lok Sabha and Madam Sonia Gandhi laugh, with his body and vocal language. These top leaders also did not laugh for the reasons of main and focal points of Budget but on gimmickery and ............ I fail to understand if the happiness of the masses lies in the pleasures of these top rank politicians, why do not we elect such Ministers in future also.S.L.Kaul
I am happy to see the budget of Indian rail way which is amazing to me and all citizen of the country. Mr. Lalu, Minister of rail way who teach other ministries how we can do good and needful for the people of country. Once of my spiritual directors says " we are a human being we may make a mistake in our lives knowingly and unknowingley as to what we are doing but being a man we can realise it our own weakness and mistakes and then we may do good things for the socity by being a man". I congratulate Mr Lalu and his Ministry,done a wounderful job during his period.Thanks and regardsAnthony
hi to all who has commented, it is really worrying to read some of the comments... this profitable situation has never hppnd for railways and do any of u remember when was the last time fares had gone down? the railways r dirty bcoz of the ppl who use it... if v as travellers r careful it will b more clean... so 1st b4 v talk v shud be a more responsible citizen...
Lalu and his frinds only work for Bihar and Terrible Nadu. Most of the National Railway revenues is diveted to these two states. This is nothing but robbery. So we must say Chak de Railways and Kick de Lalu
His excellency Shri Lallu has given a budget which has to be appreciated, his dreams of being Prime Minister, is his next vision to be fulfilled with each of your blessings.
i think lalu is doing a good job,but do not get optimistic sir, it is a tough task..solving railways problems.
Even today the railways are one of the most dirtiest ways to travel in India. Part of the probelm is not only the railwasys but the the blame should also rest with the dirty public. Laloo might have been a thief but it looks like a good thief, representing the public who are all thieves in some form or other. As far as the rail budgent is concerned it looks like the very best budget n the history of Indian railways. Shifting the design of coaches to stainless steel is that of a visionary. Giving opportunity to the porters as gangmen is very touching and is an excellent morale booster. But trying to promote minorities in to rail board because they are muslims or christians is against the very ethos of good management and is a very communal ploy. so in the end Hindus should not vote for this thief who has become the railway minister of the Christian Government of India.
The stinkiest railways in the world, with the most deplorable condition, not fit for human beings has turned a profit. Well obivously the trains are always full only during rioting they ever become empty because the population is ever multipling. So what is the big deal? Did he yet mordernize the Railway, stop poop-pooph from falling from trains making the railway stations a stink hole. By god the shameless conditions of Indian railways. Even airline tickets cost less. With these shameless conditions almost anyone can make a profit.Shameless Laloo Yadev for his political stunts.
LALU IS NOT DOING WHAT NEED TO BE DONE ON PRIORITY.ADD NEW RAIL TRACKS.REPLACING OLD TRACKS.INSTEAD OF HARVARD LALU SHOULD VISIT CHINA.IF THEY CAN HAVE RAILLINK UPTO TIBET WHY NOT WE UPTO ARUNACHAL OR SRINAGAR.OUR NATION NEEDS STATESMAN NOT THEATRE PEOPLE.ONE SHOULD SEE AUTOBAHNS IN GERMANY!
CHAKDE LALO
The hype is relentless.The ground reality however tells a different story.While in India recently,I happened to visit the Vijayawada railway station in the South Central Railway to travel by the Machilipatanam-Secunderabad Express.The platform was dirty and a person was actuallu urinating on the tracks from the platform.And there were hardly 3 or four benches for the waiting passengers.The waiting room nearbly was overcrowded and dirty and noisy.Earlier I had found that the so-called computerised reservation counters were operated mostly manually.One has to go to more that two counters to just find out if a resewrvation was available.By the way,how many of your readers know that food on this railway is served in plastic pouces tied tightly and they make your hands dirty and messy?
Did you try to lodge a complain? If not then shu your mouth. You are also a Indian and should try to take a initiative to improve things rather than bashing at govt.
One can't see beyond the smoke screens but on merits, the budget has lowered tariffs both passenger and freight, offered sops to senior women and female students and committed funds to improving railway infrastructure. It is quite innovative to propose induction of experienced porters to take over as gangmen and if it works, it would change the lives of these poor men. Railways is surely showing good results and one can dismiss the sceptics and their pessimism for the present.
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