NEW DELHI : The NDA Government’s first full-fledged Railway Budget 2015-16, to be presented in the Parliament on February 26, is expected to layout a clear road map for modernising the railways in terms of passenger amenities like improving sanitation, installing CCTVs in coaches, WiFi accessibility and e-catering.
Despite the stretched Railways’ finances, the passengers, particularly the general class may be spared from any fare hike, though some adjustments may happen in the upper classes of some premium trains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ is likely to be reflected in the budget as Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu may roll out several schemes to ensure cleanliness of trains and station premises. The Minister has been highlighting the cleanliness issue in the
Railways as a challenge.
The Government may take several initiatives in the process of electrification of the railway tracks. The Railway Budget is also expected to come up with some plan for the Dedicated Freight Corridors. Another ambitious plan of the Prime Minister of running Bullet Trains or the High Speed Trains on Indian tracks may give the Budget a miss this time as the Government is unlikely to make any major announcement.
The Government has already invited tenders for feasibility studies for High Speed Rail Project. The Delhi-Chennai High Speed Rail Corridor, for which China is conducting the feasibility study report and detailed project report, may find a mention in Mr Prabhu’s Railway Budget. Unlike the past, the present BJP-led NDA government may not oblige large number of Member of Parliaments who clamour for specific favour for their constituencies. The Government may not make any major announcement of introducing any new trains, but is likely to have more ‘Jansadharan Express’ trains which would benefit the working class people, who mostly come to commercial cities in search of livelihood.
The Railway Minister may also make some announcements on increasing the number of premium trains. Known for his image of keeping up to his promises and in getting the things going fast and with result, it is expected that the Railway Minister may well meet the deadline as proposed in the
Budget well in time.
To make the railways green and clean, Mr Prabhu may make some big announcements like powering the stations with solar energy and
encouraging the use of LED bulbs for lighting the stations, platforms and coaches.
(AGENCIES)
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