AGP demands coach factory instead of wagon factory in Guwahati: Similar demand should come in Orissa for a coach factory in Kalahandi

AGP demands coach factory in city

The Assam Tribune, April 22, 2010

Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, April 21 – In a significant move, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MP Biren Baishya opposed the budgetary proposal to set up a wagon factory in Guwahati, demanding instead a coach factory.

Participating in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, on the Appropriation (Railways) 2010 Bill, Baishya, who is also leader of AGP’s Parliamentary Party, said that the Railway Minister has made announcement to set up a railway wagon factory in Guwahati. But, there should be a coach factory, instead of the wagon factory, he stated.

“It should not be in the mode of public and private partnership (PPP) because the economic conditions of the region are not satisfactory. Assam and the NE region have always been neglected by the government at the Centre,” he alleged.

The region actually needs electrified double railway lines and there should be a separate railway zone in Guwahati for the development of the railways in the region, he said.

The AGP MP though expressed his satisfaction at the proposal to draft a master plan for the NE region. “But the budgetary allocation has not been made for the project,” he said.

The MP further welcomed the declaration to extend concession to the cancer patients of the region.

Baishya further demanded a super fast train between Guwahati and Mumbai, frequently used by the cancer patients. “There is only one train between Guwahati and Mumbai which runs twice a week. We urgently need a super-fast train in the interest of the cancer patients,” he said.

There should be a train for the people of the Northeast who frequently visit the Kamakhya temple and the Kalighat temple. “I welcome the announcement regarding the establishment of a hospital, as well as a sports academy in the region,” he said.

The Railway Minister was further urged to announce a special recruitment policy for the unemployed youth in the region.

Thousands of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts are lying vacant in the NF Railway. “We are all aware of the conditions prevailing in the NE, which is an insurgency-hit region. The region suffers from unemployment and other problems and there are thousands of posts vacant in the NF Railway.

When Lalu Yadav was the Railway Minister, over 200 appointments were made in Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories without any interview, without any advertisement. Not a single candidate was there from the Northeast, he alleged.