"By a single stroke we cannot solve all the problems that have been infecting the Indian railway system over the decades," Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said today after presentation of the Rail Budget in Lok Sabha.
Noting that there were "heaps of problem" being faced by the railways, he, however, said Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has tried his best to "optimally utilise the limited resources in order to satisfy the common people".
He maintained, "So, we cannot say that in a gap of one year or two years, we can resolve all the problem because we don't have any magic wand to eliminate all the problems or resolve all the problems.
"Therefore, we always seeking cooperation from all walks of life so that we can strengthen the Indian railway system," he told reporters outside Parliament House.
Chowdhury said his ministry had made sincere efforts to strengthen the railway network including new facilities in the railway system.
"But the fact is still we need huge infusion of funds which we do not have right now. We cannot say that railways are in good financial health. However, within the limited resources we have left no stone unturned to satisfy the people of the country," he added.
Passenger fares and freight rates were left untouched in the Interim Rail Budget.
Kharge announced the launch of 17 new premium trains, 39 express trains and ten passenger trains in the coming year and providing of rail connectivity to Katra and Vaishnodevi in Jammu and Kashmir, and Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh in the Northeast.
