Blaming previous Congress-led UPA regime for ignoring Indian railways Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu said that sector wise investments were being invited to bring about improvement in the railways.
After showing green flag to Sushashan Express Prabhu said in Balrampur that railways suffered badly during the UPA regime because it did not take interest in improving infrastructure.
“It is a fact that post independence there was over 16 per cent increase in the rail travelers but increase in rail resources was just 2.25 per cent. The Congress governments did not take interest in improving infrastructure,” Prabhu said.
He further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to bring about a change in India and therefore has invited investments in Indian railway. “This is clear that we need to pump in money in Railways to improve its network and make this sector more efficient. The Government does not have money so has decided to invite private investments in India railways,” he said.
Prabhu said that Government has set a target of investment of Rs 110 lakh crore in this sector in the next 10 years. “An investment of Rs 8.5 lakh crore is expected to be done in the present year. This investment would be mainly for improving infrastructure and rail network,” he said.
He even asked support of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for this initiative. “The state and centre should work in tandem. Both the governments are like two wheels if there is no coordination the work would be affected,” he said.
The rail minister said that the Union Government was also very much concerned about eradicate of unemployment. “The Rail workshop established in Bihar would provide employment to the youths of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and open job market for them", Prabhu said.