ASSOCHAM applauds transformational approach towards railway

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) president Rana Kapoor on Thursday said the Railway Budget is a determined effort to make the Indian Railway customer focused assuring both the passengers and industrial consumers of much better services with the help of technology.

"The initiatives like larger role of the private sector in station upgradation, rolling stock and bulk transportation would go a long way in making the Railways efficient. Besides enhancing train speed both for passengers and freight segment would bring in higher efficiency and improve ease of doing business," Kapoor said.

"Big increase in the plan size of over Rs 1,00,000 crore would lead to a positive impact on other sectors related with the Railways. The Budget shows that for the first time the government has started treating the Railways as a commercial enterprise without using it as a political vehicle. It is rather being used as a development vehicle," he added.

Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu earlier in the day presented the Railway Budget for fiscal 2015-16 in Parliament.

This is the NDA Government's first full-fledged railway budget since assuming power last year.