Lalu Yadav Makes Case for Bihar Development
Madhepura: Nov. 8, 2007
Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, during a meeting of the Planning Commission for 11th Five-Year Plan in Delhi on Thursday, asked for a package of Rs. 60,000 crore over and above Rs. 17,000 crore for various railway projects.
Yadav further asked the Commission to double the amount to Rs. 2,000 crore for the development of Bihar's backward districts, setting up of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the state, opening of polytechnique institutes in all districts, and according the status of central university to the historical Patna University.
"To minimize the disparity between the developed states and Bihar, the state would need a minimum of Rs. 60,000 crore. With so many railway projects currently underway in Bihar including setting up railway factories, laying down of new tracks, and building of mega bridges, it would need at least Rs. 17,500 crore to effectively implement all plans," the Railway Minister said.
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