New Delhi, April 19: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today said Maoist violence and bandhs have cost it Rs 500 crore and asked the states to provide security to rail passengers and property.
“We have lost Rs 500 crore because of Maoist violence and bandhs… called by opportunists,” she said while replying to the debate on demands for grants for Railways for 2010-11 in the Lok Sabha today.
Highlighting the financial constraints to meet the demands raised by the members, Banerjee said implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission had imposed a burden of Rs 55,000 crore on the railways.
Besides, she said, the Railways would have to bear an additional burden of Rs 610 crore on account of rise in diesel price and Rs 275 crore towards service tax.
–Agencies