Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today termed the rail budget as "balanced, pro-people, and visionary" which is aimed at putting the Railways on the "right track".
Badal said the decision to include Amritsar and Nanded in a project aimed at beautification of stations in the two popular Sikh pilgrimage centres and provision of passenger amenities were "supreme gift" to the people of Punjab, especially the Sikhs.
It'd give a big boost to tourism in the state, he said.
"This project is a humble gift of the NDA government to the residents of 'Guru Ki Nagari' (Amritsar) as this project would give further fillip to the development of the holy city," he said and thanked Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.
Welcoming the decision to introduce Aastha Circuit train to connect important pilgrimage sites in the country, Badal said this was a "unique" endeavour to help cement the bond of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood.
Badal expressed hope that journey of all the five Takhts of Sikhs would be a part of this circuit.
The Chief Minister further said projects like Mission Zero Accident and TCAS (Train Collision Avoidance System) would help ensure safe travel.
The proposed PACE (Procurement & Consumption Efficiency) mission, aimed at bringing procurement practices in line with international best practices, would immensely benefit farmers of the state ensuring procurement and transportation of their harvest on time, he said.
Badal said the continuance of Kisan Yatra, a special travel scheme to help farmers learn about new farming and marketing techniques, would also go a long way in bailing them out from current agrarian crisis.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh said
there was nothing fresh or special in the rail budget.
"Nothing has changed and nothing is going to change for the passengers," he said, adding, "at best it sounds like a routine ritual and at worst just disappointing".
The former CM pointed out while in the last Rail Budget "the great dreams about bullet trains were sold, this year the government seems to have just forgotten it".
The Amritsar MP in a statement also referred to the frequent railway accidents and claimed passengers' safety appears to be the last among the priorities in this budget.
About providing food and baby food in trains and Wi-Fi on railway station premises, he said, "We are not hearing it for the first time and I'm sure this is not going to be the last time either.
