Politicians from Maharashtra have severely criticized the Narendra Modi government and the Minister for Railways DV Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday saying that the rail budget presented in the Lok Sabha is not in the favour of the common man.
Also read: #RailBudget: Mumbai to get 864 EMU locals
Speaking to dna, senior congress leader and former MP from Mumbai Sanjay Nirupam said, “Every day around 65 to 70 lakh people commute by Mumbai local, but except 864 (EMU) locals, Mumbaikar has got nothing in this budget. UPA government had already discussed about the automatic doors for the local trains and it was already in the pipeline. Mumbai has received a raw deal. The way it has announced periodic revision of railway, it will lead to increase rail fare.”
Terming the railway budget shocking, the state convener of AAP Anjali Damania said, “ The government should look after the railways, and by any mean it cannot be privatised. Development is required, but it should be done by the government. If money is required, it can be raised by the financial institutions or tax free bonds. Bullet trains cannot operate on current lines, for that money is required. If the project is implemented through PPP, what will the government do?, she asked.
Criticising the Modi government and terming the Rail Budget as an 'old gift in a new package,' NCP leader Nawab Malik tweeted, “Most of the UPA government's railway policies have been repackaged as NDA's Railway Budget. Outsourcing of jobs means putting an end to railway recruitment, which will lead to uncertainty among job seekers.
Also read: How Sadananda Gowda came across as extremely aggressive and modern in his maiden Railway Budget
“There are around 85,000 stations in India, but only 50 stations are going to get escalators. Public Private Partnership will only burden common man. Housekeeping will be required to look after lifts, escalators, but who will pay for it? Ultimately, money will go from the pocket of the common man. Mumbai - Ahemdabad route has been considered for the bullet train, but the route does not consist of whole India. Spending Rs 60,000 for 560 KM is not worth. If we look at the land acquisition act, it would take more than 15 years for the bullet train to come. After the Assembly elections If it loses or win, it will increase railway fare, Nirupam added.
Out of 70 trains announced as per the budget, 14 trains connect Maharashtra to other states.
Questioning the "achhe din" Malik added, “The Budget presented by Sadanand Gowda is more like issuing tenders to sell the Indian Railways. Gowda tabled a 'PPP Budget' instead of the Railway Budget. Also the high-speed trains were implemented, tried and tested by the UPA, all the NDA has done is take undue credit."
Also read: Things you need to know about Narendra Modi's Bullet train plan which will connect four metros in India
Congress spokesperson Janardan Chandurkar said, “ Mumbai is a maximum city and it gives maximum revenue to the country. But Mumbai has not got more share. The 14.5% price hike has also not been rolled back by the government. Automatic doors will take 10 years to come. The height off platforms needs to be increased, due to which many people have lost there lives, but there were no talks of increasing the level of platforms.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra has termed the Railway Budget disappointing on twitter, and said that nothing has come to Maharashtra's share.
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