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The Rail Budget 2013-14 reflects “gross inconsistencies and contradictions”, said Tapan Sen, MP and General Secretary, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
In a statement here on Tuesday, Sen questioned how the ambitious target on goods traffic and freight earnings could be met, when investment for procurement of wagons and wagon-manufacturing was being scaled down, as reflected in the budget statement.
Also, he wondered how the target for passenger traffic as well as revenues would be met, when the passenger-coach-and locomotive acquisition plan was being scaled down.
He said this indicated that the only avenue available for the Railways would be to further increase freight charges and passenger fares. “This is the untold story of this budget,” he added.
The CITU said the hike in reservation charges and fuel surcharges would impact passenger fares soon. The fuel charge adjustment policy indicated by the Railway Minister had kept the door open for interim fare hike through executive order, he added.
It also criticised the Rail Budget’s thrust on promoting public-private partnerships in many areas of maintenance and development work, which, he said, was an attempt for “backdoor privatisation of various services.”
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