Railways not to be privatised, says Mamata

NEW DELHI, APRIL 10. The railways would not be privatised, THE Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, said here today.

The railways would also not sell its land, she said while presenting the 45th annual railway week national award to 104 railwaymen from all over the country.

A total of 54 personnel from Group ``C'' and 15 from Group ``D'' and 33 from the gazetted categories were conferred with the award of which two were given posthumously.

``The railways will not be privatised as long as I am the minister,'' Ms. Banerjee said and asked the rilwaymen to be more vigilant and strive to move towards ``Zero tolerance'' in matters of safety.

She said for decentralisation of the railway working, the annual awards should be given on the basis of Divisions, instead of the railway Zones as at present. There are nine railway Zones which are further divided into 61 Divisions for functional autonomy.

The Minister said State-level monitoring committees were being set up to oversee the timely execution of railway projects. ``This will bring about further decentralisation in the working of the railways,'' she said.

She invited NGOs to take part in the railway development projects. But, public or private participation in the railway development works would not lead to retrenchment of the railway staff, the Minister assured the employees.

- PTI

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