LOK SABHA SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than ...

kindly intervene in facilitating early completion of the several projects for Konkan
Railways initiated in the preceding years.
SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI: Railway is the biggest Government
undertaking and the largest one also in the world. It is the single system, which
consists of 64,460 route kms. of track that cris-cross the country. I will mainly
confine my speech regarding the White Paper on Indian Railways placed on the
floor of the House by the then hon. Minister for Railways. My first observation is
this. Does the Ministry of Railways have Parliamentary sanction for re-
appropriation of funds between various funds paid/plan heads and zones of
Railways? Over the period of time, it is seen that whatever this hon. House gives
approval to, particularly, to the project and amount is being diverted/reappropriated
to some other project. This is not allowed as per the system in vogue
Parliamentary system. How can the Railway officials overrule and re-appropriate
those funds? So, I would like to urge upon the hon. Minister to take note of it.
Will not the transfer of funds from Capital Fund to Development Fund dilute the
very purpose for which these Funds were created? When the operational losses
incurred on the strategic lines by the Ministry of Railways is more or less being
reimbursed for the last three years, then on what basis can this be justified as a
ground for reduction of rate of dividend? As against China’s addition of new lines
of 1000 kilometres per annum, India achieved a mere 220 kilometres per annum
during 2004-05 and 2008-09. The payment of ex-gratia to the victims of train