Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041059560800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Privatisation of transport corporations ruled out

Special Correspondent

“No government will countenance the reversal of nationalisation”
Heated discussion between ruling, opposition members

CHENNAI: There is no question of privatisation of transport corporations in the State, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Intervening during the discussion on demands for grants for the Transport Department, the Chief Minister said no government would countenance the reversal of nationalisation of transport corporations, which had been done with a far-sighted objective.

He also recalled that during the Congress regime in the State, routes which were more than 100 miles (161 km) were nationalised by the then Transport Minister R. Venkataraman.

Subsequently when he became Chief Minister, he continued the process.

Private operators such as T.V.S, Pollachi Mahalingam, Kumbakonam Raman and Raman and Porayar operators voluntarily offered their cooperation and participated in functions organised in this connection. The process was continuing and no government would reverse the “revolutionary decision,” the Chief Minister added.

Earlier, there was a heated discussion between the ruling and opposition members when Transport Minister K.N. Nehru charged that an attempt was made to privatise the transport corporations during the AIADMK regime.

This was disputed by the AIADMK members, who wanted the Minister to prove his charge. At this stage, the Chief Minister intervened.