Railways releases Rs 75 cr of CWG sponsorship cash

While the Opposition is sharpening its attack on UPA government over alleged corruption and irregularities in Common wealth Games, railways has released Rs 75 crore as per its commitment as the lead support of the sporting event.While a senior railway ministry official confirmed that around Rs 75 crore was handed over to the sports ministry, eyebrows are being raised over the timing of the release of money. It could not be a accident that a major sum was handed over on Tuesday, a day top Congress leadership dumped "tainted" Organising Committee chairperson Suresh Kalmadi, argued a senior railway official.

Railways's no-confidence in the OC was reflected in the conclusion to route its sponsorship fee through sports ministry. After a series of allegations of corruption in organising the Games, an official said, "Railways had determined to pay the cheques to the sports ministry instead of the OC directly." Railways, the lead sponsor of the Games, had promised Rs 100 crore as sponsorship fee. In the rail budget, railway minister Mamata Banerjee had announced that the state-run carrier would be pay the OC Rs 100 crore after railways was declared the lead sponsor.

For the remaining Rs 25 crore, railways is considering adjusting the huge expenses it incurred on running special trains before and during the sporting event. Before the start of the mega event, railways ran a special exhibition train -- Commonwealth Express -- to generate awareness and celebrate the spirit of the Games. During the Games, it also spent a good sum on running special Taj Commonwealth Express between Delhi to Agra to ferry athletes and officials to visit Taj Mahal.