Railways can't be privatised, govt will corporatise some arms: Piyush Goyal

International News

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said there was "no question" of privatisation of the railways, but said the ministry will invite investments for new lines and projects in national interest.
Addressing the Lok Sabha on the issue of Demands for Grants of the railways, Goyal said track kilometre grew from 77,609 km to 89,919 km from 1950-2014 and rose to 1,23,236 km in the past five years.
"There is no question of privatisation of railways. Railways cannot be privatised. However, if we have to increase the facilities in railways then obviously we need investments for it. We have taken a decision to encourage public private partnerships and we will also corporatise some units," the minister said.
"There is no question of privatisation of the railways, but we should invite investment in national interest if there are new projects and lines," the minister told the House.
He also said railway budgets which were earlier presented in Parliament were designed to mislead the public and show them dreams about new trains for political gains.
"A tea vendor selling tea in front of trains during his childhood saw this country and understood the significance of the railways," said Goyal.
During Congress rule, not one coach was manufactured in Rae Bareli's Modern Coach Factory, one of the production units of which will be corporatised, he said. But the first coach was made in August 2014 shortly after the BJP came to power, he added.

 "There is only one difference between winners and losers, losers see difficulties while winners look at goals," Goyal said...Read More

Piyush Goyal back as interim Finance Minister, to present interim Budget

Intrim Budget 2019:

With eight days to go before the Narendra Modi government presents its interim Budget on February 1, the Prime Minister on Wednesday entrusted Railway Minister Piyush Goyal with ministerial portfolios of finance and corporate affairs till Arun Jaitley comes back from the US.

Jaitley underwent a surgery in the US on Tuesday. With doctors having advised him two weeks’ rest, Goyal is set to present the interim Budget — the final Budget of the Modi-led government’s current tenure, which comes less than 90 days before the Lok Sabha polls and could contain key announcements.

According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique, issued at 8.55 pm, the President, as advised by the PM, directed that during the period of Jaitley's indisposition, the finance and corporate affairs portfolios, held by him, be temporarily assigned to Goyal. It said Goyal would continue to hold his existing portfolios: Railways and coal.


 The communique stated that Jaitley “be designated as minister without portfolio during the period of his indisposition or till such time he is able to resume his work as minister of finance and minister of corporate affairs.”...Read More