Railway budget is disappointing: Raman Singh

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh Wednesday termed Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s railway budget “disappointing”. He said the budget benefits only the state to which the minister belongs.

“The rail budget is disappointing for the people of Chhattisgarh, it has let down our expectations,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader told reporters.

Singh said: “Bilaspur railway zone in Chhattisgarh was generating highest revenue for the railways but only two new trains have come to the state’s share in the railway budget. It’s really disappointing.”

“Chhattisgarh has low rail connectivity and we have been demanding more trains for the state,” he stated, adding, “the railway minister ignored our all major demands”.

He informed that demand of gauge conversion of meter-gauge track between Raipur and Dhamtari rail route and its extension up to Kanker had been pending for several years.

“The rail service could have helped the poor tribals of Bastar region to transport forest produce, but it seems a new precedent was set in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that the rail budget will benefit only the state from where the (rail) minister belongs,” Singh opined.