KOZHIKODE: The people’s representatives and trade organisations have expressed disappointment over the railway budget saying it contained nothing special for the common man.
Mr P. Karunakaran MP said the budget was an eyewash as fares, including for tatkal and platform tickets, had been increased earlier. The charges for children aged below 12 have been increased. Even after the crude oil price dip, there is no reduction in the ticket rates. The budget signals privatisation. Almost 139 projects announced today were in the last year’s budget,” he said.
Mr M.K. Raghavan, MP, said he was awaiting the response of the BJP state leaders on the budget which had neglected Kerala. “There are no new trains for the state. Baindur - Guruvayur train and trains from Kerala to other metro stations etc. were some of the discarded lot. The common people depend on trains more,” he said.
The Malabar Chamber of Commerce stated that the budget did not contain anything new. “The only relief is that the goods and passenger train charges have not been increased. The coach factory in Palakkad did not get a place in the budget. The electric trains in the Shoranur-Mangalore line have been stuck since substations’ works have been abandoned,” said secretary M.A. Mehaboob.
However, Confederation of All-India Rail Users Association welcomed the budget. “The long-pending demands of security, hygiene, speed, insurance projects and placing ladies compartments in the middle of the trains have been accepted,” said general convener C.E. Chakkunny.
