There has been a mixed reaction to the Railway Budget, presented by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in the region. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday welcomed the Rail Budget describing it as “people- friendly” and “development-oriented”.
Hailing the budget as a visionary initiative towards strengthening the national transport system, Badal said that the decision to involve States to make railways backbone of national connectivity would usher in a new era of cooperative federalism in the country.
He said the decision of introducing ‘Perishable Cargo Centres’ for farmers at important railway stations was a revolutionary step aimed at facilitating them.
The announcement on embarking Kisan Yatra, a special travel scheme to help farmers learn about new farming and marketing techniques, would also go a long way in bailing them out from the current agrarian crisis, he added.
The Chief Minister said for the first time in the history of the country, thrust had been laid on cleanliness, hygiene, comfort, accessibility, service quality and speed of trains.
Badal also complemented Prabhu for presenting a “far-sighted” railway budget that aims at improving the amenities for the passengers, enhancing customer services and upgradation of the infrastructure and laying thrust on governance and transparency in the Railways besides focusing on the financial self sustainability of the ‘national carrier’.
“The progressive decisions like augmentation in carrying capacity of passenger trains and effective complaint redressal system would further pave way to deliver passenger centric services to the people,” he said.
Haryana CM says it is
pro passenger
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal has hailed the railway budget 2015-16, terming it as pro-passengers.
“Besides sparing the passengers of fare hike, several facilities have also been introduced for their convenience. The rail budget is more reformative and sensible than populist and aimed at bringing major changes for making traveling in Indian Rails more comfortable,” said the Chief Minister.
While lauding the announcement made by the Railway Minister for formation of joint ventures with the state which will enable states like Haryana to construct new railway lines by raising the funds, he said that Haryana has already sent a proposal last month for signing a MoU with the Railways Ministry in this regard.
Welcoming the decision for eliminating 3438 level unmanned crossings in the country, the Chief Minister said that Haryana would also be benefitted with this announcement as state government has earlier submitted an action plan to Railways for eliminating 119 unmanned level crossings in the state. This will help in great extent in averting the accidents on unmanned crossings, he added.
Manohar lal also lauded the introduction of several modern provisions like introduction of Wifi, escalators at platforms, e-catering, facilities for senior citizens and disabled, easy ticketing for unreserved seats in five minutes among others.
Rail budget disappointing, says Himachal CM
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday described the railway budget as average, full of hollow promises and rather disappointing for the people of the hill State.
“It’s an average budget which is full of hollow ideas and promises without any substance. It’s a rather disappointing budget, especially for the people of Himachal Pradesh,” he said in a statement.
The Chief Minister said it was unfortunate that despite the State’s repeated requests for extension of rail lines in the State, especially the Bilaspur-Bhanupali-Beri-leh railway line which would link the State with neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir and crucial from the strategic point of view, no announcement was made.
He said the Central Government had again completely ignored the proposals of the State for extension of rail lines and conversion of existing rail tracks into broad gauge.
Singh said no single announcement has been made on starting new trains.
“The common man was expecting reduction in rail fare and as far as modernisation of the railways is concerned, no clear indication has been made how resources would be generated,” he said.
He said in the previous rail budget, presented by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, a few surveys for new lines and extension were announced but they also failed to find mention in this budget.