Other States - Rajasthan   

Rail Budget a mixed bag for Rajasthan

JAIPUR: Mamata Banerjee’s Railway Budget on Friday came as a mixed bag for Rajasthan, a backward State when it comes to rail facilities, with a few new trains and a few extensions of existing trains.

There is not much on the gauge conversion front for the State but the announcement of surveys on the proposed new inter-State rail link between Ratlam and Banswara-Dungarpur and electrification of the Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur route could be termed as major breakthroughs for Rajasthan under the United Progressive Alliance regime.

However, the revised Rail Budget came as a disappointment in the cases of the north-south rail links -- between Rajasthan and the southern States. The much awaited link between the Kerala capital and Jaipur did not materialise and even the frequency of the weekly Marusagar Express, the lone train linking Jaipur and Kerala, did not increase.

The political parties commented on expected lines with the Congress hailing the announcements and the BJP deriding them with the observation that even 20 MPs did not make much difference in the usual fare for Rajasthan on the rail front.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Minister for Rural Development C. P. Joshi and Jaipur MP Mahesh Joshi welcomed the budget. Mr. Gehlot said the announcements made by Ms. Banerjee would make the journey of “aam admi” a little more comfortable. He hailed the budget for no increases in the passenger fares and freight charges even when it offered better passenger amenities and comforts.

Mr. Gehlot was particularly happy about the nine new trains, including the Sriganganagar-Delhi weekly super fast and Mumbai-Jodhpur weekly express besides the daily Sealdah-Jaipur to Ajmer train. He termed the decision on the proposed new rail lines between Ratlam Banswara-Dungarpur, Ajmer-Sawai Madhopur via Tonk and Bilara-Bar as “historic”.

BJP State president Omprakash Mathur found the budget a “big disappointment” for Rajasthan.

“The State got very little even after the Congress winning as many as 20 seats in the Lok Sabha elections,” he said. BJP State general secretary Rampal Jat said Rajasthan was deprived of a non-stop train in the current round.

Consumer activist Anand Sharma termed the budget favourable for the consumers. He hailed the decision on reducing the amount on “tatkal” reservations.

Rajasthan’s rail facilities are expected to improve with the proposal to include Jaipur and Ajmer Junction for developing as world-class stations and by the proposed electrification of the Jaipur- Sawai Madhopur route besides the choice of Udaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner stations as multi-purpose premises.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kirorilal Meena’s membership of Lok Sabha under threat
Rajasthan push for rural banking
Rail Budget a mixed bag for Rajasthan
2 model schools for Rajasthan districts
Pro-poor, says Hooda
Nine Rajasthanis identified
‘Global art square’ for Jaipur

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu