Railway Budget to play an important role in nation's growth: Modi

"The Rail Budget will prove to bring in speed, development to Indian Railways, security and service to citizens. For the first time there is holistic railway budget of modern India. Railway cannot be run on an adhoc basis. This Rail Budget will prove that Railways plays an important role in the Nation's development," Modi said.

"Institution mechanism is necessary; this budget gives strength to that and to transparency and integrity. This Rail Budget will become a huge power for the economy. Its about developing the nation through development of railways.

Railways have come up with initiatives which shows where we want to take the country, not just the Railways. This Rail Budget will contribute to trade and the economy," Modi added.

"The country will now feel in real terms that this is Indian Railway. For a long time, the vision was broken, not unified.

The foundation of 21st century India gets reflected through this budget," he further added.

Earlier today Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda presented his maiden Railway Budget where he introduced a slew of reform measures to modernise Indian Railways.