Common man says railway budget good, but more needs to be done

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee's decisions to not increase passenger fares and to introduce several safety measures have been received well in the national capital by the masses and the rich alike.

The New Delhi railway station saw passengers keenly discussing the budget and welcoming the announcement that fares would not be raised.

"Mamataji has done the right thing by not increasing fares," said Raman Kant, a rickshaw puller from Bihar. "People like me who come to Delhi to work as daily wage labourers or rickshaw-pullers heaved a sigh of relief after the announcement."

People in the middle-income group also hailed this decision but said infrastructure needs to be upgraded at many railway stations in the country.

"The toilets at stations and in trains are dirty," said Surendra Mehta, who runs a stall outside the station. "These should have been cleaned with a minimal increase in fares."

Ranjit Juneja, 60, credited Banerjee for keeping the focus on security and introducing the 'Bharat Thirth' train. "It is a wonderful idea," he said.