The industry of North-East has welcomed Narendra Modi government's maiden Railway Budget, as it found the "intent" of the budget, among others, to be "very clear". "Railway minister deserves appreciation for his honest analysis of the state of affairs of railways and his no-nonsense approach in coming out with the roadmap ahead. What people will now be watching eagerly is implementation of all these big ideas with missionary zeal.Notwithstanding the fact that railway's fundamentals are under dire straits of stress caused by policy paralysis of previous government, the minister has not only rightly diagnosed the ailments of Indian Railways but has also prescribed a clear roadmap and corrective actions ahead," said RS Joshi, chairman of Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER), the premier industry of body of North-East.
He added: "Indeed, it's an India-centric Railway Budget and not Bihar or Bengal centric as used to be the case earlier." He welcomed the railway minister's decision to come out with a strong action plan to complete pending projects, including projects of national status, in the North-Eastern region in a time bound manner by a quantum jump in budgetary outlay for these projects.
"As the intent of the budget is very clear, that Indian railway wish to reach the last mile of nation's territory, we the people of North-East can take a solace from this commitment for the time being," Joshi added.
"It appears railway minister intends to give shape to these radical measures through administrative mechanism in course of time to avoid criticism from certain quarters, which sometime kills the bud in the nip," he said.
He added: "Indeed, it's an India-centric Railway Budget and not Bihar or Bengal centric as used to be the case earlier." He welcomed the railway minister's decision to come out with a strong action plan to complete pending projects, including projects of national status, in the North-Eastern region in a time bound manner by a quantum jump in budgetary outlay for these projects.
"As the intent of the budget is very clear, that Indian railway wish to reach the last mile of nation's territory, we the people of North-East can take a solace from this commitment for the time being," Joshi added.
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He said one had to read between the lines on railway minister's agenda to find that it actually contained enough reforms in the form of private investment, public-private-partnership (PPP) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in railways.
"It appears railway minister intends to give shape to these radical measures through administrative mechanism in course of time to avoid criticism from certain quarters, which sometime kills the bud in the nip," he said.