New Delhi:
Criticising the Modi government over the bullet train project, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday equated bullet train with demonetisation, saying this move ‘will kill everything else’ and suggested that the money should instead be spent on improving rail safety.
Bullet train will be like demonetisation. It will kill everything else including safety.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
His comments come a day after a stampede on a footbridge in Mumbai claimed 22 lives.Â
Railway Minister may take pledge on day after. Rs One lakh crore for rail safety, track upgrading, signalling & not for bullet train.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
Chidambaram alleged that the bullet train project is not for ordinary people but an ego trip for the high and mighty. He suggested that Railway Minister Piyush Goyal should use the Rs one lakh crore meant for the project for ensuring railway safety in the country.
"Bullet train will be like demonetisation. It will kill everything else including safety.
"Railway Minister may take pledge on day after Rs one lakh crore for rail safety, track upgrading, signalling & not for bullet train," he tweeted.
Bullet train is not for ordinary people. It is an ego trip for the high & mighty.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 30, 2017
The Rs 1.10 lakh-crore project is expected to be completed by 2022. The train would link Mumbai and Ahmedabad covering a distance of over 500 kms in around two hours.
