Debating the Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the Lok Sabha, opposition members on Wednesday said the bill would have a negative impact on the autonomy of the railways and would increase the chances of its privatisation.
Introducing the Bill, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said on Wednesday that the first passenger train service in India was started in 1853, and in 1890, the Railway Act was enacted. The Railway Board Act was passed in 1905. Now the government has decided to merge the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905 with the Railway Act, 1989 into one unified law – the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Congress MP Manoj Kumar said that if this bill is passed, it will have a negative impact on the autonomy of railways. He said that this bill also increased the possibility of privatization.
However, BJP’s Ravi Kishan said the bill was meant to simplify the legal framework for railways. He said that railways are also a social responsibility.
Samajwadi Party member Niraj Maurya urged the minister not to go towards privatization of railways. It would have been better if the minister had consulted in an all-party meeting before bringing this bill,’ he said.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee expressed concern over train accidents and suggested that the government reduce the operating costs of Indian Railways and improve passenger facilities.
Participating in the day-long debate on the bill in the Lok Sabha, several opposition members, including RSP’s NK Premachandran, demanded that the government resume offering rail fare concessions to senior citizens.
Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav demanded the resumption of concession on train fares for journalists and SC/ST/OBC students to appear in exams. Congress’s Gurjit Singh Aujla alleged that if the Bill is passed, it will end the Railway Board and promote privatisation. He said that people are afraid that the Center will privatize the railways.