Wed Mar 12 16:08:59 UTC 2025: ## Rajya Sabha Debates India’s Railway Future: Progress vs. Privatisation Concerns

**New Delhi, March 12, 2025** – The Rajya Sabha engaged in a heated debate Wednesday regarding the performance of India’s Railways Ministry, with the ruling BJP highlighting infrastructure improvements under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, while the opposition raised concerns over privatization, safety, and service quality.

BJP members lauded the government’s investments in high-speed rail corridors and overall infrastructure development, contrasting it with what they described as politically motivated railway budgets prior to 2014. Samik Bhattacharya, BJP MP from West Bengal, emphasized the shift towards a development-focused approach, aiming for a “self-reliant India.”

However, opposition parties presented a starkly different picture. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s N.R. Elango criticized the impact of privatization and outsourcing, alleging a loss of approximately two million railway jobs. He further highlighted a concerning rise in train accidents, linking them to privatization policies. Similar concerns were raised by Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Sanjay Yadav, who questioned the incomplete implementation of the Kavach safety system.

The debate also saw accusations of corruption and mismanagement, with Janata Dal (United)’s Sanjay Kumar Jha indirectly criticizing former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad. Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain echoed concerns about rising accident rates and the impact of vacant railway posts. Despite the criticisms, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda praised the government’s efforts, asserting that more progress had been made in recent years than in the previous six decades.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to respond to the debate on Monday. The discussion underscores the contrasting perspectives on the future of India’s railways, balancing progress and concerns over privatization’s effects on jobs, safety, and service quality.

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