This refers to the editorial, “Getting back on track” (July 9). Union Minister for Railways DV Sadananda Gowda has presented a Budget which has focussed on speed, expansion and development in equal measure.
The bullet train and the Diamond Quadrilateral for high speed trains were projects which needed great political will to be put on paper, and the NDA Government has revealed it has the credentials to dream big. However, other salient and finer points of the Budget cannot be missed. The provision of clean drinking water and packed, branded food will be lapped up by travellers.
Passengers will be glad that the thrust on cleanliness and facilities on platform and trains are more forthcoming in the Budget. The budgetary provision for cleanliness has been raised by 40 per cent, which envelops top priority for 50 select stations. Mr Gowda has rightly given importance to prop up facilities across the board. This rail Budget is indeed a forward-looking one and not populist.