India's new Railway Minister C. P. Joshi Monday said that he would prioritize the safety of passengers and ensure the railways' active role in the country's economic growth.

"Safety will be my top priority, along with passenger amenities and modernization of rail infrastructure. The aim is that railways have an active role in India's economic growth," the Minister told the media in the national capital.

Joshi, a senior Congress leader, has been appointed the Railways Minister after the portfolio was vacated last week by Mukul Roy who was from the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's former eastern ally Trinamul Congress.

The Trinamul Congress last week withdrew support to the central government in protest against the rise in diesel price and allowance of foreign direct investment in the retail sector.

Indian Railways is facing a huge funds crunch and the Trinamul Congress did not allow any hike in fares in this year's budget. Moreover, in the recent past, there have been a number of deaths due to rail mishap.