It is refreshing to see a Railway Budget without an announcement of a new train, and kudos to Mr Suresh Prabhu for saying that his Budget is the first step towards the de-politicisation of Indian Railways. If travellers see a marked change in the services and start enjoying it, they will not mind paying more in the future.
let us hope that Mr Prabhu's new initiatives like ‘Swachch Rail', dedicated professional department for cleanliness, toll-free number for security-related matters, surveillance cameras, SMS alert services and ‘Operation Five Minutes' will be implemented properly.
Mr Prabhu cannot be expected to turn around the finances of Indian Railways in a single Budget, but his plan to tap capital from foreign markets and pension funds should put the railways on the right track. If his initiatives bring tangible results in the next one year, it will be good for him and the country.