Gandhinagar, 26 February 2013

Congress ruled UPA government’s Railway budget is anti-development and non-performance, said Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi in a statement.

Modi said the budget is clear symbol of UPA government’s inactive and non performing working style. Reacting to Union Railway budget, Chief Minister said that Railway minister’s claim that there’s no hike in fare is misleading.

He said actually railway fare were increased three months back, and now introduction of new surcharge in the name of diesel price hike will result into price hike of essential commodities. He said Railway budget will dump further burden of inflation on poor and middle class people.

Modi said Gujarat gives highest income to Railway, but when it’s about providing Railway facilities, Gujarat faces injustice.

Modi pointed out that the budget doesn’t mention Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune High Speed bullet train at all. Though Railway earn highest revenue from Gujarat, the state has been neglected in last nine years when it comes to fulfillment of peoples’ valid demands.

“In last budget, an announcement was made that a wagon factory will be built in Kutch, and in last three years 57 surveys were carried out for new railway lines, but Railway budget hardly mentions anything regarding this,” Modi said.

He said Railway lacks vision on India’s coastal trade in competing global economy. Coordination between coastal-port connectivity and railway administration doesn’t reflect in the budget.

Railway infrastructure has very important role to play if India wants to prove its competitiveness in the world in the area of trade and commerce. Instead of demonstration of future vision for Railway services, many railway projects are halted due to financial crisis, and when Railway minister admits this, it proves that the budget is non-performance, Modi said.