No improvement in railways since nine months: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Thursday said the Railway Budget proposals for fiscal 2015-16 did not reflect any sign of improvement in the condition of the railways since the NDA Government had taken charge in 2014.

"It has been nine months since the formation of the government and we haven't seen any improvement in condition of the railways," she told media here.

Presenting his maiden railway budget, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu said the railways has to undergo a transformation over the next five years.

He said the proposed investment in railways will be Rs. eight lakh fifty six thousand twenty crores by 2019.

The thrust of the Railways is to become a prime mover of the economy once again, act as a resource mobilisation for higher investments, decongestion of heavy haul routes and speeding up of trains, emphasis on gauge conversion, doubling, tripling and electrification.

Raising the 'Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat' slogan, Prabhu said professional agencies will be engaged for cleanliness. There will be e-catering to select meals from an array of choices and passenger can order food through IRCTC website at the time of booking of tickets in the coming days.

For the safety of women passengers, surveillance cameras would be provided on a pilot basis in selected mainline coaches and ladies compartments without compromising on privacy and SMS alert service would be introduced to inform passengers in advance about the updated arrival and departure timings of the trains.

The minister also announced about wi-fi to be provided at B category stations.