The Rail budget was criticised in Rajya Sabha by some opposition parties for not living up to the expectations of the people, while ruling party members hailed it as a bold one.
Moving the Rail Budget for consideration, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu informed members that his ministry had signed an MoU with LIC which would open a line of credit of upto Rs 1.5 lakh crore which would help funding of projects.
Speaking after Prabhu, Mahendra Singh Mahra (Cong) said there were expectations from the Rail budget which it has not lived upto.
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He said the development of rail network was important also from the security point of view as the expansion of rail, road network by China had come upto Indian border.
Vijay Goel (BJP) complimented the Railway Minister, saying he had presented a good budget.
Before the BJP government came, railways was not very good shape and there are several challenges ranging from losses to safety concerns that need to be addressed, he said.
He said the country had got a bold, practical and realistic budget after a very long time.
Kanak Lata Singh (SP) said farmers, workers and middle classes had been disappointed in the budget and there were no new announcements also.
She said while there is talk for starting Bullet trains, the common people may find it difficult to afford high fares.
Singh said the focus of the people in power should be to work for the common man.
Gulam Rasool Balyawi (JD-U) said things like wi-fi or ordering food online may benefit only a small section of passengers who travel in trains.
He also expressed objection to the manner in which Railways was carrying in publicity of Swacch Bharat campaign claiming that pictures of Mahatama Gandhi had been put on toilet walls. He added that perhaps those who respect the Mahatama's assassins may not have allowed such a thing.
