�Railway Budget is a Passenger-Centric Budget�: Javadekar

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, has termed the Railway Budget 2016-2017 as a �passenger-centric budget”. In a reaction after the presentation of the Rail Budget in Parliament today, Shri Javadekar said, “It is a futuristic and a visionary budget, which reflects Prime Minister’s vision of Make In India very strongly. Railway Budget also makes railway more important in the economy of India.” Shri Javadekar said that it is a passenger-centric budget and the facilities and security will be increased. He added that for the first time, the poorest of the poor have been given importance. “New Antyoday Express, a completely unreserved train and Deendayal coaches on all expresses and mail trains is an important addition for the unreserved class of passengers”, the Minister said.

Shri Javadekar also stated that the Railway Budget is of reforms, where the capital expenditure will be trebled in one year and freight has been given due importance and the new freight corridors – North-South and East-East are an important target. He also pointed out that the expansion of railway network and gauge conversion has been increased in the last two years, from three kilometers a day to seven kilometers a day. “Port connectivity will also increase the visibility and usefulness of railways”, the Minister stated

The Minister also said that Mumbai Elevated Railways is a new paradigm shift in the sub-urban trains. He said that people had been demanding these elevated corridors for decades and the demand has been fulfilled in this Budget.