Indian Rail : Whose Baby it is ?
RECENT events have made me think : what is the need for a separate rail budget? All Ministers of Railway, in recent years, have presented a budget without any increase in fares. Mr. Lalu Prasad showed a surplus never seen before, yet no additional facilities were provided to passengers, nor the quality of services improved; even some steps were taken to put passenger under duress, like putting an additional seat as side middle . What Mr. Lalu did, perhaps, was the most unethical thing. ALL of us get depreciation for the conveyance we have. Similarly, all government departments keep a wear & tear account which is used for replacements/contingencies or for addition/value addition. Laluji, most likely used all that fund to show railway in profit. Obviously, railway was left with no money to renovate or add to the services. Mamta continued on the same line. AS A hind sight, it seems that there was a deliberate attempt to suck the blood out of the railway to have an excuse to...