Hoping that the Indo-US nuclear deal will go through, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has claimed that "most misunderstandings" with the Left on the issue have been cleared.
KUALA LUMPUR: Hoping that the Indo-US nuclear deal will go through, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has claimed that "most misunderstandings" with the Left on the issue have been cleared.
"I am very, very hopeful that the deal will happen which is in India's favour," said the RJD leader, who was here on a three-day visit to witness the signing of the one million-dollar contract awarded by the Malaysian Government to public sector company IRCON.
The Minister said the atmosphere during the discussions with the Left was very "cordial".
"We have been discussing queries by the Left. It has been a very, very cordial atmosphere. When they want more clarification, we have cleared most misunderstandings," he said.
"However, it must be understood that bread (food) will not fall from the skies, there will be food only when infrastructure is developed, when there is sufficient power in the country..." he said.
Referring to his talks with Malaysia's Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat here, he said Kuala Lumpur had sought India's help for safety audit of tracts of land where railway tracks could be built.
"We have assured them of all our help and an Indian Railway Board safety team is to visit Malaysia soon to help ensure safety is maintained while building railway tracks over land which could have silt below," the minister said.
IRCON bagged its biggest ever contract to build electrified double tracking in the Seremban-Gemas sector.
"With the signing of the agreement, IRCON's credibility has gone up further and we can expect more mega international projects," Lalu Prasad said.
Referring to the Monorail system, the Railway minister said it would be ideal for Indian cities which were congested and where the existing houses on the roads could not be pulled down.
"I have chosen Patna as one of the cities to have monorail facility," he said adding that IRCON had to give the feasibility report first before any decision was taken.
Malaysia's Scomi group, which manufactures monorail coaches, would be invited for a global tender which will be floated when the feasibility report is accepted, he said.
The minister rode Kuala Lumpur's elevated monorail on Thursday and was impressed with its efficiency of transporting people fast.
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