Vaishnaw rules out rlys privatisation

Says public transporter set for transformation & govt committed to provide affordable services

- RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR

RAILWAY Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said there is no question of privatising the Railways, asserting that providing affordable service to all is the focus of the national transporter.

Vaishnaw said the Railways is working to ensure that people can travel up to 1,000 kilometres in comfort in less than 400. He said 12,500 general-class coaches are being manufactured for the convenience of the people.

"There is no denying the fact that Railways will undergo a complete makeover in the next five years and trains like Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat, equipped with indigenously developed anti-collision device called 'Kavach', will lead this change. It has started now," he said while addressing the Railway Protection Force Raising Day event in Maharashtra's Nasik.