Railway Minister Ms Mamta Banerjee today said that the White paper presented in Parliament today is just a status report. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, the Minister said that this is not the first time that a white paper has come out. She said the main aim is to take the Railways to a greater height. <br/><br/>Stating that the Indian Railway has slipped to fourth position from the 2nd rank in the world, she said the government wants to make it the best in the world. The Minister said the downfall is mainly due to financial shortcomings. Stating that fares can not provide for the expenses alone, Ms Banerjee said that Railway is planning for commercial utilization of its land to raise revenue. <br/><br/>Outlining the vision for the railways, she said that the dedicated freight corridor is one of the priorities. She said increasing the reach to remote areas and making the railways accident free in 10 years, are also high on the agenda.<br/><br/>The Minister said that though Railway will expand its infrastructure, no forced land acquisition will be done by the department. Saying that Railways are the greenest option for future mass transport, Ms Banerjee said tree plantation will be largely undertaken along the tracks and for fencing. Ms Banerjee said that the Ministry is dedicated for providing highest quality service without hike in fares and a special cleanliness drive will be undertaken during next three months.<br/>
News On AIR | December 18, 2009 6:04 PM
White paper just a status report: Mamta