Railways will carry forward Lalu Prasad’s projects: Minister

September 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee has said an external agency would probe allegations of graft during her predecessor's tenure. Lawmakers belonging to Bihar's Janata Dal (United) had alleged that that during the tenure of former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, people were asked to cede land to the railways in exchange for jobs and contracts in the organisation.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The railways ministry Wednesday said it would not resort to forceful acquisition of land for railway projects, and that it would review its land acquisition policy. "The ministry of railways has decided that there shall not be any forceful acquisition of land for railway projects," the ministry said in a statement.

August 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Tuesday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and dismissed reports of differences with her. "All talk of differences is wrong.

July 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday said the country was awaiting the white paper promised by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee on the railways' performance in the last five years. Banerjee told parliament July 3 that she would come out with a white paper on the actual performance of the railways in the past five years when Lalu Prasad headed the ministry.

July 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Former railways minister Lalu Prasad Tuesday urged his successor Mamata Banerjee to prepare a report on his tenure within seven days and added that he was prepared to apologise to the nation if any irregularities were found. "Within seven days, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials, railway officials and planning commission officials should be called and a report should be published on my tenure, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad said in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the railway budget.

June 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday hinted at the withdrawal of the free lifetime pass issued to her predecessor Lalu Prasad to travel in first class air-conditioned coaches with three companions. "This kind of misuse must not happen," Banerjee told reporters here when asked for her comments on the order passed by the Railway Board that extended the largesse to Lalu Prasad.

June 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A complimentary pass for life to travel in a first class air-conditioned coach for self and three companions. This was, perhaps, the last largesse doled out to Lalu Prasad during his final days as railways minister.

February 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A new book explaining how the second largest railway network in the world is managing disasters - both man-made and natural - was released here Tuesday. Railways Minister Lalu Prasad released the book, titled 'Disaster Management in the Indian Railways', written by Minister of State for Railways R.

February 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Monday announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.500,000 to the next of kin of those killed in the Orissa train derailment and employment to one of their dependents. 'I have ordered payment of ex-gratia of Rs.500,000 to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs.50,000 to grievously injured and Rs.10,000 to simple injured...

February 12th, 2009 MUMBAI - Mumbai citizens have given a thumbs down to Railways Minister Lalu Prasad's budget presented in parliament Friday as they feel there is nothing specific for suburban commuters for whom the railways is a lifeline. 'What is being done to reduce the rush in the trains, the congestion outside all the suburban railway stations, women's security and cleanliness?' demanded a student Riddhi Shah.

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Railways will likely get Rs.200 billion (Rs.20,000 crore/$4 billion) from Japan for their rail freight corridor project, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad said here Friday. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will release the funds by the end of 2009, Lalu Prasad told reporters after presenting the interim railway budget.

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Living up to his promise of easing the burden of average train passengers, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Friday cut fares by two percent, introduced 43 new trains and said feasibility studies on starting 'bullet trains' in the country were progressing well. Presenting the interim rail budget for 2009-10 in parliament, Lalu Prasad also announced the extension of 14 trains, an increase in the frequency of 14 others, apart earmarking a higher plan outlay of Rs.379.05 billion (Rs.37,905 crore/$7.75 billion) towards expansion next fiscal.

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The financial transformation of the Indian Railways - which registered a huge turnover this fiscal - is different from the private sector that resorts to 'anti-people measures', Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav claimed while presenting the interim railway budget in the Lok Sabha Friday. 'The transformation of the railways is fundamentally different from the financial turnaround witnessed in private sector companies,' Lalu said in his budget speech here.

January 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Monday announced a compensation of Rs.100,000 to the next of kin of the 12 people killed in a rail accident in Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh a day earlier. The accident, at Unchahar in Rae Bareli distict, occurred when a tractor-trolley was hit by the Kanpur-Allahabad passenger train while passing through an unmanned railway crossing level crossing.

January 22nd, 2009 RANCHI - Indian Railways Friday paid tributes to freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by renaming a railway station in Jharkhand after him. Railways Minister Lalu Prasad announced the new name of the Gomo railway station that comes under the Dhanbad railway division.