India Inc. has given a thumbs-up to the railway budget, calling it people-friendly and industry-friendly.
“It is clearly a progressive and a forward-looking budget,” said Harsh Pati Singhania, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci).
The industry is pleased that the minister has not increased freight rates and has made important announcements like linking industrial clusters to markets, introduction of several projects under PPP mode and setting up of land banks for commercial and industrial use of railway land which would contribute to develop markets and creating demand, said Singhania.
Ficci also welcomed the setting up of a technical committee under Sam Pitroda for laying down optical fibre cable networks along rail tracks for commercial use.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) welcomed the proposal of having a partnership with the private sector, which has opened another avenue for industry to participate in the growth of Indian Railways.
“The pro-people, pro-industry and pro-economy railway budget will create a win-win situation for all – the railways, the wagon manufacturers, heavy industries and the common man,” said Venu Srinivasan, president of CII.
As anticipated, the minister has laid out a very pro-people and development-oriented budget, with a strong focus on passenger and goods services, added Srinivasan.
Praising the railway minister for not increasing passenger fares, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) president Sajjan Jindal said the budget proposals would help inclusive growth and at the same time ensure expansion of the railways.
