Rail Budget 2003

DEVENDRA PRASAD JD-U

It is a balanced budget because it has kept the larger interest of passengers in mind. There are several new projects which should be welcomed like Broad Gauge Conversions in several key places. I would like to highlight the multi-crore bridge which is being built on the River Kosi, near the Indo-Nepal border. It will link east and west Bihar, which is crucial in the development of the state.

JAIPAL REDDY CONGRESS

The Congress said the Railway Budget was 8216;8216;status quoist8217;8217; which lacked fresh initiative to improve the finances and the functioning of the Railways and showed that Railway Minister Nitish Kumar has confused political cowardice with populism. Stating that the budget graphically exposed the increasing bankruptcy and decreasing revenues of the Railways, party spokesman Jaipal Reddy said that passenger traffic and passenger earnings have sharply declined.

Though Kumar has not increased the rail fare, Reddy said he could not be complimented for not making enough effort to increase internal resource generation.