The Minister for Railways has done a commendable job in meeting competing demands of improving and increasing services for commuters and controlling expenditure of his department. It is a reformist and forward-looking Budget which presents a realistic picture of Railway finances. I compliment him for his innovations in critical areas of rail infrastructure and paving the way for capacity expansion.
— Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
The Railway Minister has presented a very responsible, practical and implementable budget. Within the resources the Railways can mobilise, I think he (Bansal) has done a remarkable job of providing new trains, new lines, extensions, capital works and production facilities.
— Finance Minister P. Chidambaram