Finance Min rejects Rlys request for Rs 32,000 crore

The Finance Ministry has rejected the request of Railways for Rs 32,000 crore as revenue grant, sought to tide over the impending impact of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on the public transporter.

In a communication to the Railways, the Finance Ministry has categorically rejected the Rs 32,000-crore demand, expressing its inability to provide the grant, and has asked the public transporter to raise its own resources to manage the finance, said a senior Railway Ministry official. Earlier, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking Rs 32,000 crore as grant from the exchequer’s for implementation of the Commission recommendations.