Piyush Goyal issues clarification on privatisation of Railways in Lok Sabha
On reports that the Centre was mulling on the privatisation of Indian railways, the Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday issued a clarification in Lok Sabha.
Piyush Goyal, in Lok Sabha, said that the Indian Railways will never be privatised but the private investment should be encouraged for more efficient functioning. It is a property of every Indian and will remain so, he added.
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"We're accused of privatizing Railways, but people never say that only government vehicles should run on roads, it's so because both private and govt vehicles help economically," he said.
"Private investment in Railways should be welcomed as it'll improve services," said the Railway Minister on the privatisation of Indian Railways.
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Even as he said that "people criticised lockdown, but had it not been done, the continuation of train services would have spread COVID-19 across the country."
The Railways arranged about 4,600 Shramik Special for migrant labourers with the distribution of about 2 crore free meals and water bottles" he informed the Lok Sabha.
Adding, he said that has been no death of any passenger due to a rail accident in the last two years. The railways has been putting the focus on passenger safety, he added.
He also said that the solar panels have been installed at about 1,000 railway stations and 400 railway buildings. By 2030, India will be the first country in the world to become a 'net zero railway' (carbon emitter), said the Railway Minister.
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