Lalu books 35 trains for his party’s rally
The RJD supremo has booked 35 trains to carry party workers to the state capital for the ‘Chetawani’ rally slated for October 28, reports Vijay Swaroop.
IF UNION Railway Minister and RJD chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav is organising a rally, there has to be something new in it. The RJD supremo has booked 35 trains to carry party workers to the state capital for the ‘Chetawani’ rally slated for October 28.
The already hard-pressed Patna Junction, which daily handles 80 pairs of trains that either originate from the junction or cross it, is gearing up for an additional workload of 35 trains.
The entire rail section, from Mokama to Bihta, is being converted into a ‘stabling yard’ where the trains booked for the RJD rally would be parked. Officials of the East Central Railway (ECR), however, deny any hanky-panky in the booking of trains.
“Let me make it clear that, as per Railway rules, no special trains can run unless full and final payment has been received. We have already received the initial security deposits and will wait for full payment until 48 hours before the departure time of the trains. No payment would mean no special trains,” General Manager (East Central Railways) Girish Bhatnagar told the Hindustan Times.
He said the RJD has, so far, deposited Rs 52.5 lakh as security deposit at the rate of Rs 1.5 lakh per train. “The ECR would be earning between Rs 1.75 crore and Rs 2 crore (approximately) from the bookings,” he added.