Rail Budget to improve passenger amenities: Labour Minister

Hailing the Rail Budget as "progressive and well thought out", Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today said it would improve amenities and infrastructure without burning a hole in passgengers' pockets.
"This is a progressive and well thought out Rail Budget, without increasing the passenger fare. Moreover, there is an increase of 64 per cent (in spending) on passenger amenities," he told reporters in a press conference here.
He said the budget is reformist, development-oriented and gives direction to development over the next five years.
The minister said the proposal to raise electrification target by 133 per cent to 6,608 km would help Railways in improving efficiency.

He further said the move to eliminate 3,438 level crossings at a cost of Rs 6,581 crore is a major step in eliminating railway-related casualties.
The minister also expressed satisfaction over increase in the fund allocation for South Central Railways by 25 per cent to Rs 2,768 crore for 2015-16 compared with Rs 2,200 crore in the current fiscal.
He further said the move to install surveillance cameras in coaches of select trains and in ladies compartments in suburban trains is a step in improving passenger security, especially women.