Gandhinagar, Tuesday: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today described the Congress-led UPA Government’s Railway Budget for 2013-14 as anti-development and inflationary, reflecting the Centre’s work culture of non-performance.
He said the government’s claim that there was no increase in the railway fare is eyewash to mislead the people. The fact is that railway fare was increased just months back. And today’s announcement imposing surcharge in the excuse for higher cost of diesel is another way to raise the fare.
H said that even as the UPA Government had miserably failed to check inflation in all sectors, today’s announcement would add further fuel to inflation. Its effect would now be felt more by the poor and middle class.
Mr. Modi said the Railway Budget also failed to provide desired port connectivity and decisive synergy despite increased share of maritime trade in the global perspective.
He said the Congress-led UPA Government yet another time deliberately ignored Gujarat’s genuine expectations and claims to Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune Bullet Trains and other pending projects. The budget is also silent about setting up a wagon factory in Kutch announced during the last budget. In all, 57 surveys were conducted for 57 new lines during the last three budgets but none included in this budget. While Gujarat provides maximum revenue to the Railways, it continued to be neglected for the last nine years.
Mr. Modi said the Railways infrastructure played a very significant role in Indian economy and to establish India’s importance in global economy but the Railway Minister’s admission about lack of funds and vision to run confirmed the Indian Railways non-performance.