Questions are being raised in political circles on the removal of veteran CPM Lok Sabha member Basudeb Acharia as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on railways by Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee.
Many are of the opinion that Mamata wanted to ensure free flow of funds to certain railway projects that the standing committee under Acharia might have deemed unnecessary and objected to. The proposed new chairman, DMK leader TR Balu, is a much better bet for her.
Political circles believe Mamata’s extravagance in launching new projects could have been questioned by the standing committee.
A senior political analyst recalled that during her earlier stint as railway minister in the NDA regime, Mamata showed similar haste in inaugurating projects, including public lavatories at railway stations.
Analysts said Mamata had been insisting on Acharia’s removal ever since she became railway minister.
“It is likely that with Acharia at the helm of the committee, Mamata’s expenditures would have come in for sharp criticism. So, it made political sense for her to bring in a new face that is not a known Trinamool enemy,” the senior analyst said.
Railway board records support the analysts’ argument. During her earlier term as railway minister from 1999 to 2001, the railways’ expenditure witnessed a sharp rise and its reserves depleted.
As per the records, when Mamata took charge in 1998-99, the reserves, including reservation fund, development fund, pension fund and capital fund, were Rs1,253 crore. However, in 1999-2000, they drastically came down to Rs253.43 crore. By the end of fiscal 2000-01, when Mamata resigned from the ministry, the reserves had not increased.
The income from freight also depleted in that time. During 2000-01, the railway’s freight income came down to Rs600 crore from Rs900 crore in the previous fiscal. Many of the then top railway officials felt excessive spend and unnecessary inaugurations were the main reasons for the financial setback.
