Chennai (PTI): Noting that the Railway Budget was prepared with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK on Tuesday criticised the budget saying that it "lacks farsightedness and vision".

"The Railway Budget 2008-09, which is the last Railway budget of the UPA government is purported to be a 'please all' budget but all that it has done is to please the minister himself immensely," AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa said in a statement here.

She also said a few populist measures for senior citizens, women and girl students have been announced taking into account the vote bank across the country and the introduction of new Garib Raths was also such a measure. Jayalalithaa said while the budget made provision for adding new railway lines, doubling of lines and gauge conversion projects, it was highly disappointing that no announcement was made with regard to new routes for connecting the coastal districts of Southern Tamil Nadu.

She said while Lalu Prasad claimed that it has been profit all the way for the Railways, the fare cuts announced today were only marginal, which was surprising. "As usual there are also a few cosmetic changes like vending machines for tickets, reservation through mobile phones, adding thereby the glamour of technology."

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister pointed out that apart from extension of a few trains, no substantial changes were made for the state. She said "though the minister claims that the Railways has ended up with a profit of Rs 25,000 crore in 2007-08 and Rs 68,000 crore surplus in all four years, investment on new projects like new lines, track upgradation, track increase is low."

Rail Budget 2008-09