Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Calling the railways an engine of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the maiden rail budget unveiled by Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and said that it focuses on transparency and passenger safety.
“The railway budget presented in Parliament on Tuesday lays stress on transparency and integrity," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Speaking after the budget was placed in the Lok Sabha, Modi said the budget "keeps in mind the development of India. We can see the great use of technology also".
"This budget shows where we want to take the railways and at the same time where we want to take India through the railways," the Prime Minister added.
The budget introduces the country's first bullet train, to ply between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and increase the speed of passenger trains up to 200 km an hour on select routes.
The budget "strengthens institutionalized mechanism" in the Indian Railway network, which carries 23 million passengers every day.
In his speech, Modi also acknowledged that the railways play "a very important role" in the country's development.
He said the country should have paid more attention to railways after independence in 1947. "Better late than never."
Earlier, Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda announced 58 new trains including 5 new Jansadharans, 5 premium trains, 6 AC express, 27 express trains, 8 passenger trains, 2 MEMU trains and 5 DEMUs. He further announced extension of 11 trains' route.
The bulk of India's future railway projects will be financed through public-private partnerships. The decision to push private investment signals the appetite Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s new government has for taking tough and unpopular decisions he has said are needed to revive the economy.
“This year's Rail Budget will strengthen transparency in the system,” the Prime Minister concluded by saying.
