Rail budget disappointing: Himachal CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Tuesday termed the railway budget a "disappointment" for the state.

"The railway budget neither contains the proposal of extensions of rail lines nor the conversion of existing rail tracks into broad gauge," he said in a statement.

"I had personally pursued the state issues for extension of the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri-leh rail line via Manali, which was important from the strategic point of view and also the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri line till Pathankot," he said.

But two-time chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prem Kumar Dhumal said the budget was futuristic and constructive, which would fulfill the aspirations of the people of the country.

A rail link was also proposed for the industrial belt of Baddi-Barotiwala from Pinjore but nothing except promises were given to the people of the state, Virbhadra Singh said.

He said that last year during the Congress-led regime, a few surveys for new lines and extensions were announced in the railway budget but that also failed to find any mention this time.

BJP lok Sabha member from Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur, said the budget was "forward looking that focuses on better passenger facilities, modernisation and innovation for growth of the rail network in the country". He said the announcement of two new rail line surveys in Hamirpur parliamentary constituency was the right step.