Congress govts responsible for 'backwardness' of railways: Suresh Prabhu

Ballia: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Monday held Congress responsible for "backwardness" of the Railways and said that despite ruling for the maximum period its governments failed to take necessary steps for development of the country's "lifeline".

"Successive Congress governments are responsible for the backwardness of Railways. They failed to take necessary steps and did not invest, as it was required for the development of the country's lifeline," he said after laying the foundation stone for doubling of tracks between Ballia-Chappra sections here.

He also held the Congress governments responsible for late running of trains and said they did not work on modernisation of railways.

The Modi government inherited economic bankruptcy from Congress. But in its first Budget, the NDA regime took revolutionary measures for improvement and development of railways, Prabhu said.

The Budget was prepared keeping the next five years in mind and it gave positive results, he said, adding, "When we talked about Rs 8.5 lakh crore investment in railways in the Budget, we were mocked, but within eight days we arranged an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore."

Prabhu said, important steps were taken by the government for speedy implementation of works and he has not received even a single tender in his one year tenure.

"We have delegated all the powers to GMs and DRMs. During Congress regime rail used to concentrate on limited areas, now work to improve and increase railway amenities is being done in all areas of the country," he said.

The Modi government has ended the Congress tradition and focused on people-oriented approach. Now Indian Railway is getting closer to the people, Prabhu said.

The Union Minister said that doubling of lines in Uttar Pradesh has increased by 454 percent and 123 rail over bridges were being constructed in the country.

PM Modi's 'achche din' is being discussed on social sites and comments indicate that there have been improvements in the last one year, he said.

Asserting that the PM and his ministry's attention was on railway development in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, Prabhu said the country would progress only when one of its biggest state progresses.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said, for the last 10 years the previous regime used to give Rs 1,000 crore to UP, but Modi government has given Rs 4,200 crore to the state this year.

The speed of development of railways in Uttar Pradesh would increase and arrangement for doubling of Bhatni-Audihaar section and gauge conversion of Indara-Dohrighaat would be made in the next Budget, Sinha added.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress leaders raised slogans against Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, while he was about to board a special train for Varanasi after the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Miffed at not being able to submit a memorandum to the minister over problems relating to railways in the area, the Congress members raised slogans against him.

The agitating members also had a skirmish with BJP workers.

State secretary of Youth Congress Jainendra Pandey alleged that BJP and Railway Protection Force (RPF) attacked them in which three workers were injured.

The RPF and Government Railway Police (GRP), however, denied such allegations.