New Delhi, August 06: The Lok Sabha today passed a Bill to expand the Metro Rail network in the country after rejecting the demand that the work be undertaken by Indian Railways (IR).
The demand that Metro Rail work be carried out by the IR instead of creating multiple authorities like Delhi Rail Metro Corporation (DRMC) in other cities where it is proposed to be built was made by former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad (RJD) and was supported by Trinamool Congress (TC) whose leader Mamata Banerjee heads the Ministry now, and the Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (United).
Reminding Mr Prasad that he was a party to the Union Cabinet’s decision that rapid urban transport systems be taken up by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy pointed out that urban transport systems are handled by urban development authorities all over the world.
Opposing the demand that IR should take over construction, operation and maintenance of Metro Rails in the country, DMK leader T R Baalu said let the IR first complete thousands of its projects of which foundation stones had been laid over the years.
—-Agencies