The railway budget is not populist and lays stress on completion of pending projects, increase services, underlines the need for efficiency, transparency and governing standards to raise the railways to the level of global standards, a chamber of commerce has said.

S Sampathraman, President of FKCCI, said the first railway budget of the BJP Government provides for consolidation, sustainability and safety.

“It also focuses mainly on growth, safety, security and cleanliness. The object is to make the Indian Railways self-sustaining in the next few years,” he added.

The budget proposes to use the insurance and provident funds for capital requirements. The main object is to develop railways as an infrastructural source by consolidating sustainability and safety, Sampathraman said.

Kassia “From the perspective of the MSME sector, the budget has hardly anything concrete to offer, which is really a great opportunity missed by the Railway Minister,” said Chidananda M Rajamane, President, Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia).

“Expectations about a major push for ‘Make in India’ project too have been belied. However, it is a good thing that the Minister has shied away from announcing grandiose projects choosing to focus instead on the nearly 360 projects which are either not commissioned or not completed,” he added.

BCIC Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) termed Railway Budget as ‘operational and practical’. BCIC commended the Railway Minister for setting a long-term vision with a five-point execution strategy for transforming Indian Railways supplementing it with comprehensive reform measures over the next five years.

AN Chandramouli, President-BCIC, said: “Overall, the Budget looks more operational and practical given the kind of very limited elbow space in term of shrinking revenues. Some open-ended announcements, such as commissioning of 1,200 km fresh lines this year, introduction of nine hi-speed corridors, high speed trains, wagon-leasing scheme for Private players, involvement of ISRO on safety initiatives, revamping of Railways through PPP Model and outsourcing cleaning services to private agencies are very positive measures.”

Loco Staff Association As a representative of one of the vital category of Railway Employees, i.e. Railway Loco Pilots, All India Loco Running Staff Association South Western Railway Zone, C Sunish, General Secretary of the association, said, “We welcome that the passenger fares are not increasing. But 10 per cent hike in freight will affect the public by rate of hike in essential commodities, as well as freight moving likely shift from railways to road which adversely affects the income of railways.”

The association said it is unfortunate that many Railway board committees’ reports/proposals are gathering dust. The important proposal in all these reports is filling up of vacancies in safety categories, especially loco pilots, he added.

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