The Congress Party on Thursday criticized what it termed a 'below-average' budget, and questioned the absence of an indication of where finances for the sector would be generated.
"I have to regrettably say that this is a below-average budget. Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu hasn't told us where resource generation will happen from. The fundamental thing about the Railways is that there has to be money. Where it will come from, if Prabhu will take it from [Union Finance Minister] Arun Jaitley, we don't know," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the media.
"The modernisation of railways, which requires huge capital investment, has not been properly indicated. The budget has also not indicated how the money [for modernisation] will come. Our trains look decrepit, dilapidated, old and inefficient. That look has to change," he added.
Singhvi also said that cleanliness in the railways was of paramount importance.
"Swachh Bharat is a slogan that nobody can object to. However, forget Swachh Bharat, we are happy with ordinary Bharat if you are able to provide some minimal modicum of cleanliness on the railways," he said.
Echoing his sentiment, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla expressed his disappointment that the rail fares had not been reduced.
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"They have talked about increasing the comfort of the passengers, yet they haven't announced any new trains. Secondly, because the diesel rates have reduced, we thought that the train fares would be reduced," he said.
Earlier in the day, Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu presented his maiden budget, stating that the sector has to undergo a transformation over the next five years.
He said the proposed investment in railways will be Rs. 8,56,020 crores by 2019.
The thrust of the Railways is to become a prime mover of the economy once again, act as a resource mobilisation for higher investments, decongestion of heavy haul routes and speeding up of trains, emphasis on gauge conversion, doubling, tripling and electrification.
Raising the 'Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat' slogan, Prabhu said professional agencies will be engaged for cleanliness. There will be e-catering to select meals from an array of choices and passenger can order food through IRCTC website at the time of booking of tickets in the coming days.
For the safety of women passengers, surveillance cameras would be provided on a pilot basis in selected mainline coaches and ladies compartments without compromising on privacy and SMS alert service would be introduced to inform passengers in advance about the updated arrival and departure timings of the trains.
The minister also announced about Wi-Fi to be provided at B category stations.