Centre exploiting trainpassengers, alleges Lalu

Patna: Former railway minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday criticised the Narendra Modi-led govt at the Centre for its “diminishing railway facilities” for general passengers and the rising number of train accidents in the country.
Turning to X, Prasad alleged that the railways has incurred heavy losses despite exploiting the common people during PM Modi’s 10 years in office.He detailed how services and facilities for the public have deteriorated.
“They (Centre) increased train fares, hiked prices of platform tickets, sold railway stations, reduced the number of general coaches and also scrapped benefits given to senior citizens. Yet, the railways has gone into deficits and train accidents have increased,” Prasad posted on X. He apprehended that the govt might eventually sell the railway tracks.
During his tenure as railway minister, Prasad introduced air-conditioned and affordable Garib Rath trains and implemented several welfare measures for general passengers without increasing train fares, an RJD functionary said.
These fresh attacks on the Centre came shortly after RJD’s repeated criticisms of the NDA govts in Bihar and at the Centre regarding the recurring collapse of bridges over rivers and canals in the state as well as the rise in criminal incidents.