Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, M. Veerappa Moily, said here on Tuesday that the committee would give its report on the ramifications of the Union Cabinet’s decision on merging the Railway Budget with the General Budget, before the commencement of the next Parliament session.
Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a function at the University College, he said that the committee would examine its implications on the Railways, the Railway Board, Statistics, Planning and Finance ministries. The committee would have at least three sittings.
“It is a major budgetary reform. The committee will examine the implications and submit a report before the commencement of the winter session in November,” he said.
Mr. Moily said that the matter would be discussed with the Statistics and Planning ministries on September 29. Later. it would be taken up with the Finance Ministry and the Railway Board.
The former Union Minister said that the Railway Budget was separate since the British era. When the Railways had its own budget, there was flexibility to announce its new programmes and impose levy. It might not be so after the merger.
The committee would examine the implications of the Cabinet decision comprehensively, he added.
