New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the bullet train project in the wake stampede that killed 23 people on a foot overbridge at Elphinstone Road railway station in Mumbai.
The former union minister of finance on Saturday also said in a series of tweets that the train would, like demonetisation, “kill everything else including safety”.
Bullet train will be like demonetisation. It will kill everything else including safety.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
He said that train is excessively expensive and is not meant for middle-class people.
“Bullet train is not for ordinary people. It is an ego trip for the high & mighty,” he tweeted.
Bullet train is not for ordinary people. It is an ego trip for the high & mighty.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
Also Read: Shiv Sena attacks Modi’s bullet train, recommends learning safety measures from Japan first
In his twitter handle, Chidambaram said, instead of bullet train, Railways should spend on safety, better infrastructure and better facilities.
Railways should spend on safety, better infrastructure and better facilities. Not on bullet train.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
He also said the Railways Minister should take pledge for rail safety and not for bullet train.
Railway Minister may take pledge on day after. Rs One lakh crore for rail safety, track upgrading, signalling & not for bullet train.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe laid the foundation of 508-kilometer Mumbai to Ahmedabad bullet train project in Modi’s home state, Gujarat.
The high-speed train will accommodate 750 people. The length of the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be cut down from seven to three hours.