NEW DELHI : The Narendra Modi government presented its first Rail Budget in Lok Sabha today, promising to ”set things in order” and bring in private investment and FDI except in railway operations but hinted at some hard decisions to bring back on track the largest public utility. Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who presented the Railway Budget for 2014-2015, said in his speech that sometimes ”bitter medicine” was needed in the interest of the organisation. He said the emphasis would be on PPP mode for starting new infrastructure projects and completing old ones, while pointing out that his aim was to improve safety and passenger amenities. The Minister said he would invite private investment to build Railway infrastructure and the Ministry was seeking Cabinet approval for FDI in Railways except Railway operations, Pointing out that Rs 5 lakh crore were needed in the next ten years for railway modernisation, the Minister said he hoped to recover total receipts of Rs 1.64 lakh crore. The Minister proposed a Plan outlay of 47, 650 crore. He said he would not like to announce new things as that would be injustice to the struggling railways. He would instead take steps throughout the year by setting things in order, he added.
The Railway budget proposed many high speed trains . The Minister said railway catering will also be given special attention.
He also announced further modernisation of the Railway reservation system.
The Minister laid special emphasis on speed and announced bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
He also announced various measures to enhance railway saftey, including the decision to introduce automatic closing of doors. He said 4,000 RPF personnel would be recruited to enhance safety for women passengers.
The Minister said there would be 40 per cent hike in the expenditure on ensuirng cleanliness in Railways. He announced introduction of bio-toilets. Talking of computerisation, he said he planned to make railways paperless in next five years.
Mr Gowda said he would set a timeline for funding ongoing projects.
The Railway Minister also proposed increasing railway revenue by promoting religious tourism.
(AGENCIES)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel