Terming the Railway Budget as directionless and visionless, Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday said that the authorities were following a fire brigade approach on safety and security of passengers.
Participating in the resumed discussion on the Railway Budget, Ekanath K Thakur (Shiv Sena) said there was total lack of direction and vision in the Budget and no efforts had been made to modernise the Railways.
Referring to the recent rail mishap on Konkan Railways, he said "we adopt only a fire brigade approach" after every rail accident with the Minister suspending or dismissing employees.
"We have a Railway Minister who thinks with a few suspensions and dismissals, safety is ensured," he said.
Questioning Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's proposal to establish a wheel plant in his Parliamentary constituency Chapra in Bihar, Thakur said "every Minister thinks Railways is his private property and sets up a factory in his constituency."
PC Alexander said everybody was praising the Railway Minister for not raising passenger fares and freight rates.
"Is this the criterion for judging the efficiency? When input costs are rising, we want fares and freights to remain untouched. What type of economics is this?"
"We do not find in the speech any policy or direction contributing to efficiency of the Railways," Alexander said adding instead of receiving the applause, the Railway Minister should set priority for his administration.
Lauding the Budget, RK Dhawan(Cong) said special attention should be paid to punctuality of trains and trolley should be provided to porters for easy transportation of luggage.
Terming the Budget as ideal, Ramdeo Bhandary (RJD) said the UPA was committed to social justice and the Budget reflected that.
He said it was wrong to suggest that the Budget focused on Bihar.
Surendra Lath (BJP) said the Budget gave very little attention to safety of passengers.
Nandi Yellaiah (Cong) lauded the Budget saying use of khadi and kulhars (earthen cups) would boost rural employment.
In his maiden speech, Tariq Anwar (NCP) said the Budget had taken care of unemployed, women, poor and the handicapped and suggested special attention should be paid to cleanliness of toilets in long distance trains.
Vanga Geetha (TDP) was of the view that Andhra Pradesh had been totally neglected by the Railway Minister.
Another TDP member Rama Muni Reddy Sirigireddy said the budget was directionless.
