India's Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday reiterated that the Centre has no policy to privatise the national transporter and emphasised the need for the sector to accept the latest technology to meet the aspirations of the passengers, especially in terms of safety and comfort, Trend reports citing The Tribune.
The technology should be indigenous like the contribution of Integral Coach Factory (ICF) to Vande Bharat Express, and take the sector forward, he said, while virtually inaugurating the 20th all India conference of the Bharatiya Railway Mazdoor Sangh (BRMS) at Rail mandapam, Perambur, from Delhi.
Vande Bharat Express was designed and manufactured by ICF at Perambur under the Centre’s Make in India initiative.
“The opposition parties are repeatedly alleging a move to privatise the railways. I wish to clearly state that the railways is a big complex organisation...there’s no policy to privatise the railways. No such plans, whatsoever,” the minister said. What is uppermost in the mind (of administrator) is strive to do what is better for the railways and take it forward, he said.
“There’s no affinity for privatisation of railways but technology should be imbued,” Vaishnaw said and added Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already said the Central government has no intention to privatise the railways.
The minister said there is an imperative need to flex the technology to meet the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in order to make progress. “This should meet the aspirations of the nation, the youth, emerging middle class and also 8 crore passengers. The contribution should be like ICF’s role in designing and making Vande Bharat express,” he pointed out.