Mumbai: Passengers have been disappointed with the Railway Budget included in the Union Budget presented in the Parliament on Tuesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made some big announcements like running 400 Vande Bharat trains in the next 3 years, promotion of multi-modal transport system connecting railway stations, development of stations on PPP, One Station One Product Scheme and 10 cargo terminals. made in the budget. On the other hand, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav also said that more and more LHB coaches will be made for the development and safety of railways under the PM Gati Shakti Yojana to promote goods traffic.
No facility related to crores of common passengers traveling by railways was discussed in the budget. In the financial capital Mumbai (Mumbai), no facilities were mentioned in the budget regarding increase in local train services carrying 75 lakh people daily, increasing long distance trains, increasing budgetary support for Mumbai suburban services etc. Mumbaikars have been disappointed by the departure. In this way, by making some big announcements regarding freight, etc. in the Rail Budget, the work of giving tingle to the passengers of the state including Mumbai has been done. Except for Vande Bharat, no new train or passenger plans have been announced.
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Complete information will be available from Pink Book
According to a senior official of Central Railway, due to the merger of the Railway Budget in the General Budget itself, the decision regarding the necessary schemes is not clear. The information about the allocation of funds in the schemes related to Maharashtra and Mumbai railways will now be known only after the arrival of the Pink Book.
clear intention of the government
Suresh Tripathi, a senior journalist with knowledge of railway affairs, said that there is nothing new in the railway budget for Mumbai. The intention of the government regarding PPP is clear. There is no plan for recruitment in Railways. The government has been devaluing the railway system for the common people.
Mumbai’s neglect
Social worker and entrepreneur Surendra Upadhyay said that Mumbai has been completely neglected in the Railway Budget. The government is bent on privatization. In COVID too, more fare was charged from the passengers, while the facility was not yet available. There is nothing special for those traveling by train in the budget.
Rail budget disappointing
Parasnath Tiwari, president of Rail Yatri Sewa Suvidha Sangathan, said that the rail budget has disappointed the passengers of Maharashtra including Mumbai. Tiwari said that in the name of privatization, passengers are being cheated. There has been no increase in the service of general passengers.
Emphasis on infrastructure in railways
Omprakash Sharma, President of Rail Pravasi Sangathan, said that under Make in India in the General Budget, emphasis has been laid on increasing the infrastructure and facilities at the local level in the Railways. Sharma said that there is a need to pay more attention to the safety and convenience of rail passengers in Mumbai.
Indigenous and dynamic budget
Chairman of Rail Yatri Parishad Subhash Gupta said that prima facie this budget looks indigenous and dynamic. There has been talk of development of new Vande Bharat trains, new terminals, stations. Subhash Gupta said that in the upcoming Pink Book, we hope that more funds will be arranged on schemes related to Mumbai and Maharashtra and passenger safety.