Live
- GMR Airports Unveils AI-Powered Digital Twin Platform to Transform Airport Operations
- India poised to become leading maritime player: PM Modi
- Top Causes of Kidney Stones and How to Recognize Silent Symptoms
- India’s renewable energy capacity logs 14.2 pc growth at 213.7 GW
- Winter Session of Odisha Assembly adjourned sine die
- Biden calls Trump's tariff approach 'major mistake'
- After Drama Over Eknath Shinde’s Chief Minister Race, Maharashtra Cabinet Formation Faces New Tensions
- Egyptian FM, Blinken discuss recent developments in Syria
- Iran's supreme leader says Syria's developments result of US-Israeli 'plot'
- Elon Musk to Purchase $100 Million Luxury Mansion Next to Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, Report Reveals
Rail budget draws flak
A capital plan of Rs 1, 21,000 crore budget for the 2016-17 presented by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has drawn flak from all sections of society. People of the State are furious over the budget and were disappointed about the allocation of funds and development activities to the Vijayawada Division.
Vijayawada: A capital plan of Rs 1, 21,000 crore budget for the 2016-17 presented by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has drawn flak from all sections of society. People of the State are furious over the budget and were disappointed about the allocation of funds and development activities to the Vijayawada Division.
SCR Employees Sangh divisional secretary B Venkata Chalapathi Rao said, “The budget shows an empty hand to the State as well as the employees. It is purely a number game and seems there would be least chances for development of the railways or welfare of the employees. The Nagpur to Vijayawada Corridor only facilitates Telangana State and it benefits AP in no way. Huge amounts were wasted on conducting surveys on the same lines for more than three times. Why does the survey have to be done more than two times wasting the resources and financial assets? Is government sleeping on the issues,” he questioned.
He further added that there is no mention about setting up a separate zone for AP. The Railway University, which was earlier proposed to be set up in Andhra Pradesh, was sanctioned to Vadodara. The only positive element of the whole budget was that they looked into providing more security for women by introducing call centre services.
A student B Phanindra Kumar opined, “There is ample scope for improvement in passenger amenities. In fact, there is a need to improve security and sanitation services in the trains. A separate compartment for students during the work hours would be beneficial for those attending colleges from rural areas through train. The change in price for railway passes should have been considered in this budget.”
G Bhaskara Rao, a cloth merchant who frequents to Chirala and Vijayawada said, “Government should invest in providing security for the passengers apart from providing decent amenities. The vigil of guards in the trains should be made more frequent since there is a threat for the valuables and luggage in reservation compartments as well. More trains should be introduced in the busiest routes.”
Ticket Checking Branch secretary N Viswanadha Rao said, “When the government comes up with introducing new trains, it should take opinions of employees who work in the field. There is a need for adding more trains to the routes where trains like Pinakini, Ratnachal, and Intercity to Vishakhapatnam and Hyderabad are much sought after. The AP Express is a complete waste of time for the passengers as well as the employees. It is expensive too. A person who wishes to go to Vishakhapatnam to Delhi need not spend two nights and two days in a train because he can go and come back within a day through airways. Instead, government should introduce new trains to the demanded destinations. The due importance that AP deserves post bifurcation is not met and the budget nowhere seems profitable.”
Tax Payers Association (TPA) secretary M V Anjaneyulu said, “The railway budget is very disappointing. Many proposals in the northern Andhra and Rayalaseema are still pending and there is no clarity on those projects. There is no mention of the special zone for the division and the doubling of the tracks. The budget didn’t hint about introduction of new trains to the region and they ignored about expansion of platforms in many stations. No proposals were revealed about the satellite stations that are to be set up in the Vijayawada. This budget is a complete injustice to the people of Andhra Pradesh. We should fight against it.”
Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) director Potluri Bhaskara Rao speaking to ‘The Hans India’ said, “Budget for the current year is not at all encouraging. There is nothing that helps the region and the State to grow or benefit out of it. The dedicated freight corridor from Kharagpur to Vijayawada is one thing that facilitates the industry people in light of the growing activity. If a zone is sanctioned to the division, there will be a dedicated budget to the zone which will aid in development of amenities and take out new projects. There was no mention of it in the budget and though it mentioned of new trains, what is sanctioned to the AP or the division is unclear. However, passenger amenities, cleanliness and security are the areas where the budget is invested in for a positive growth.”
