Terming the railway budget as a barrier to the economic progress of the country, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday alleged that UPA government has continued with its policy of injustice toward his state.
While, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Congress applauded the railway budget for not hiking the passenger fares and announcing to start new trains from here along with proposal to expand rail line network of the state.
"The railway budget presented today is wayward and lacks vision of development along with the economic progress being made by the country," Modi said in a statement reacting to the railway budget presented by minister Mamata Banerjee. "Consecutive railway budgets have done injustice to the fast economically developing state like Gujarat. This year's budget was also the same," Modi further said.
"There is no political will to improve the infrastructure of railways in the budget presented today," Modi further said. "The budget shows that goods transport by railways had come down to 20.89 per cent this year as compared to 24 per cent in 2001-02, which says that people are preferring transporting goods by road instead of using rail network," he added. "Transportation by road is costlier and is adding to the high inflation," Modi said. Modi demanded that Centre should form an inquiry committee for quality reforms of railway infrastructure network.
Gujarat AICC secretary in charge Sudhakar Reddy described the budget as the best ever presented in the country. According to him, union railway minister Mamta Banerjee has not increased the passenger fare, freight rates and has initiated measures to ensure safety and security of the railways passengers.
He also lauded the measures introduced in the budget to encourage public private partnership (PPP) in the new railway projects and track development. The budget was also hailed by the GCCI.
"This budget is what the country requires while coming out of global recession. The concession of Rs 100 granted in this budget on transportation of kerosene and food grains is a good step to curb soaring prices of commodities," President Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rupesh Shah said.
The state shall get a major boost on logistics front too with the proposal to speed up the funding for dedicated freight corridor (DFC) of which considerable portion passes through Western Railway.
Applauding the railway budget, President of the Bhavnagar Chamber of Commerce Mehul Vadodaria said, "There has been a long lasting demand for Bhavnagar-Tarapur train which has been fulfilled."
Vadodaria said that revival of Bhavnagar-Mahuva rail route which has been dead since years would boost business and provide connectivity to the coastal region in the district. Vadodaria said railway lines along the Gujarat coast would prove beneficial for the areas development. Western region including Gujarat has got more than expected in this Railway budget, senior railway officials here said.
"It has been proposed to start new trains between Ahmedabad and Agra, Gandhidham to Jodhpur via Bhildi, Ahemdabad to Udhampur, Rajkot to Porbandar via Jetalsar, while Karnavati Express is proposed to run seven days a week," Divisional Railway Manager Ahmedabad Division Ashok Garud told PTI.
Placing Gujarat on religious tourist map, the railway has also decided to run 'Bharat Tirth' train from Ahmedabad, having following itinerary: Ahmedabad-Puri-Kolkata-Gangasagar -Varanasi-Allahabad-Indore-Omkareshwar-Ujjain-Ahmedabad.
"With the declaration of Surat as a world class station in this railway budget, the state will now be having three world class stations including Ahmedabad,and Porbandar," railway spokesperson Jitendra Kumar Jayant said. PTI
