Railway budget disappoints Chhattisgarh

The interim railway budget presented today has completely let down expectations of Chhattisgarh despite the state reportedly generates highest revenue for the Indian railways.

Barring two new trains, the developmental needs of the railway network in the State were completely ignored in the interim rail budget 2009 presented by Lalu Yadav today. The two trains include Bilaspur-Tirunelveli via Thiruvananthapuram and Durg-Jaipur Express (both weekly).

The State was expecting an announcement of gauge conversion of meter-gauge Raipur-Dhamtari route. Besides the Congress Members of the Parliament, the BJP-ruled state government had also written letter to the Rail Minister for the conversion. The rail connectivity to the North East was also one of the demands.

“The interim rail budget was disappointing,” fumed Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh. Despite the South East Central Railway (SECR)--which has its headquarters in Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) generates highest revenue for the railway—the state has been totally ignored, he added.

Dr Singh said there was no need for Lalu Yadav to present the interim budget in haste that had wilt the dreams of people in the state. “We do not have much hopes from Lalu Yadav and we will discuss about the demands when the new rail minister will occupy the office after the election,” he added.