'It is a budget for farmers, women, students and the poor'

Delivering her first Rail Budget in last eight years, railway minister Mamata Banerjee was visibly eager to outdo her predecessor Lalu Prasad even in terms of the time she took in delivering the budget speech. So much so that Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar had to politely request Didi several times to take a 'short cut.' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the budget a thumbs up and economists lauded it 'reformist' rather than 'populist.' Excerpts from an interview with the minister:

and#149;You have talked about revenue generation from non-traditional resources and PPP models. How is this going to be done?

The railways has got a lot of land. We will be utilising this land to generate resources. We have already set up land banks. Through this we will now create industrial hubs through the PPP route. In this way our land can be utilized and we will earn extra revenues. It is a new style. The business plan will be prepared by an expert committee in the days ahead.

and#149;There have been issues relating to adequate compensation when the railways has acquired land.

We will look into it.

and#149;Airlines have been offering low fares. Will it be a challenge to the railways?

There is no comparison between railways and airlines. Airlines can only take a few hundred people everyday. The railways, on the other hand, carry thousands and thousands. We are also developing infrastructure, beginning with some model stations, that will compete with airlines. So there is no question of any challenge.

and#149;Touts continue to be a menace both in the purchase of tickets as well as confirmation.

I agree to the problem. We will need some time to address it though.

and#149;Will there really be no stops in the non-stop trains?

There will only be operational stops. There will not be any stops for passengers. We have to change the driver, security staff etc, for which the train would stop at specified place. Of course, they would not stop for commercial purposes. But it is not that that non-stop trains would not stop anywhere before the destination. The fare for these trains is, however, yet to be worked out.

and#149;What will be the modality to develop 50 stations to world-class ones?

A station gets departing passenger and arriving passenger. The arriving passengers want to get out of the stations as quickly as possible. So we need to provide them such a system. On the other hand, the departing passengers require to get the ticket easily and fruitfully utilise his time till the train arrives. So there should be a food plaza, shopping complex etc. Such facilities will be provided at these stations.

and#149;When will the Diamond necklace corridor be completed?

As early as possible. How do you set it up immediately. After all studies have to be done, surveys have to be commissioned. Experts committee will sit and give their opinion. I will announce the committee when I give the reply to the railway budget discussion.

and#149;Are there any plans for disinvestment of IRCON or any other railway PSU?

There is nothing of that sorts. They are our PSUs and we are proud of them. I have already said in the budget that they are doing well and have shown good profit.

and#149;Is your budget is a populist one?

It is a people's budget. It is a budget for workers, farmers, women, students and the poor. It is a budget for the grassroot people.

and#149;The CPI (M) has criticised the rail budget saying you have only made tall promises and that it is an election manifesto for the West Bengal assembly elections in 2011.

Who knows, Assembly elections in the state may be held in 2009.