Rail Budget 'disappointing', no focus on improving its connectivity and reach: Nitish

Patna : Bihar Chief Minister and former railway minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday branded Railway Budget 2016-17 as 'disappointing', and said that it had failed to focus on improving the Railways' connectivity and reach.

He said that freight traffic, which is a major source of revenue for the railways, remains neglected as the Indian Railways had failed to achieve the target. He also said that the falling freight traffic suggests that the condition of country's economy is not good.

"Railways is in bad shape and this budget does not indicate that it would improve its condition. Freight traffic is the backbone of revenue for railways. There is no improvement in that area," he told media persons here.

"Nothing apart from cosmetics changes have been announced, there is nothing concrete. Thus Budget is disappointing, there is no focus on improving their connectivity and reach of railways," he added.

He said that there is no improvement in the functioning of the railways, as trains run late, toilets are unclean and stations are in bad condition.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who presented the budget for 2016-17 in the Parliament, said the core objective is to become an engine of employment generation and economic growth at national level. He proposed no changes in passenger fares and freight rates.

He said Railway will generate nine crore man-days employment by 2017-18 and 14 crore man-days by 2018-19. He also stated that 'reorganise, restructure and rejuvenate' are the three key mantras for his ministry.

Proposing a plan size of one lakh twenty one thousand crore rupees in 2016-17, Prabhu said by 2020, long felt desires of the common man are to be fulfilled.