Chouhan Terms Rail Budget Disappointing for State
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has described the rail budget presented in Lok Sabha as disappointing, saying that the state has not received a fair deal. However, Singh has hailed announcement of for developing two railway stations of the state as model stations and upgrading another two stations to world class.
Chouhan said that budget did not include various pending rail projects forwarded by the state government and also, due attention has not been paid for improvement of rail infrastructure.
The Chief Minister emphasizes that over the past few years, an unhealthy practice of paying attention to the state the railway minister belongs has been established.
Chouhan said that due to central location Madhya Pradesh faces very heavy pressure of rail traffic. The budget failed to take it into account. Two new trains have been announced, but it is not sufficient. Two trains have been given the status of super fast trains, which is merely a populist measure.
Among proposals for increasing the trip of 14 trains, only one of Bhopal-Lucknow Express has been sanctioned. Similarly, out of proposal for extending routes of 14 trains, only one of Jabalpur-Bhopal-Indore has been cleared.
Out of 43 Garib Rath trains announced, the state ended up getting just one Gwalior-Bhopal intercity and other Bhopal-Lucknow Garib Rath train. As for ambulance service in long distance trains, state has been completely ignored.
Chouhan said that no budget provision has been made for construction of many railway over bridges. Work has not yet been started for construction of a railway over bridge in Morena city despite provision of Rs. two crore for this purpose.
