New Delhi: Members from different parties on Thursday voiced concern in the Rajya Sabha over the poor health of railways and alleged that the government was not doing enough for betterment of the world`s second largest national passenger carrier. Initiating the discussion on Appropriation (Railways) Bill, 2011, Prabhat Jha (BJP) said the financial health of railways has deteriorated so much that it was left with cash balance of just Rs 75 lakh as on September 2010. Railways is "passing through an acute" financial shortage, he said, adding the cash surplus with the carrier used to be as high as Rs 19,000 crore.
He said the government was not keeping up the promises it has been making.
With several trains running late, cancelled or being re-scheduled due to fog, Jha said the government has failed to equip trains with anti-fogging devices.
He also raised concerns on weak rail-tracks, as pointed out by official auditor CAG.
The bill, tabled by Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, seeks a grant of Rs one lakh in the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2011-12. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on December 16.
Along with the Appropriation bill, Trivedi also introduced the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Amendment Bill, 2008.
However, Rama Chandra Khuntia (Cong) said in a "nutshell" the performance of railways is "very good".
PTI