|
Mumbaikars dismiss rail budget as dull
Tuesday February 26, 2013 06:23:04 PM,
IANS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mumbai: Even as the
railway budget presented Tuesday was described by the government
as reformist and forward looking, some Mumbaikars called it dull
and disappointing.
People said they could not be fooled into taking the "no fare
hike" claim at face value, considering that the fares were hiked
in January.
"According to me, it is a dull budget. Railway fares had just been
hiked and hence it was obvious not to hike them further. The
(railway) minister has increased the tatkal and reservation fees
which were not hiked earlier," said Sadhna Malkan, a home-maker.
Speaking about the online ticket reservation service, Khantil
Shah, a communications professional, said it was high time that
the railway ministry offered better and faster services.
"Being a frequent traveller, I am looking forward to better online
services that our minister has promised by December," he said.
"Bansal said currently only 2,000 tickets per minute is supported
by the booking system. The ministry should have known better,
considering we have over 12,000 trains running nationwide. I hope
the new system that promises booking of 7,200 tickets per minute
is a success. Fingers crossed," Shah said.
Many Mumbai residents asked what was in store for the common man.
"I just want to know what is there for the common man in this
budget, apart from a few promises, with a long waiting period. The
minister said we have joined Russia, China and the US in freight
carrying, but can I please ask him when are we going to join them
in passenger travel," said Akshay Magji, a marketing professional.
"Can we please have good engines so that our railways can run
faster and on time to stop making losses," said another hassled
Mumbai commuter Ritwik Verma, an advertising professional.
"The minister has proposed a number of ambitious schemes but the
moot point is how he is going to generate money for them," asked
Sudhir Kumar, a software engineer.
"A number of schemes were proposed in the past few budgets but
these have remained to be non-starters. The only silver lining,
this year, is the emphasis on safety, recruitment of women in the
Railway Protection Force and the proposal for rail tariff
authority," said Biju Ummen, a branding professional.
|
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Headlines |
|
100,000 Bangladeshis seek death penalty for war crimes |
|
Akhilesh undertakes biggest reshuffle of bureaucracy |
|
India beat Australia by eight wickets in first
Test |
|
Rajat Gupta ordered to pay Goldman Sachs $6.2
mn |
|
Apophis asteroid may strike Earth in 2068 |
|
Hyderabad Blasts: A lawyer's questionnaire to
police chief |
|
32 of every 1,000 Goa men won't get wife in 15 years |
|
Hope budget will have something concrete for
us: Kashmir Inc. |
|
Mali crisis disrupts education of 700,000 children:
UNICEF |
|
Turkey won’t remain silent over Syria crimes:
Erdogan |
|
Film 'ridiculing' Mamata denied clearance, director cries foul |
|
|
|
Top Stories |
|
 With focus on safety, Bansal begins presenting 2013 rail budget
Stressing on financial stability, sound economic principles and
safety for millions of travellers each day, Railway Minister Pawan
Kumar
»
Fare hike, over 100 new trains on cards in
2013 Railway Budget
Train fares hiked across the board after 10 years
|
|
|
|
Most Read |
|
 Hyderabad Blasts: A lawyer's questionnaire to
police chief
For, scanning news reports I see that over a week, EVERY name of
an alleged suspect is a Muslim name. Even names of alleged
organisations allegedly linked with the blasts, are Muslim »
|
|
SC declines to hear plea by Sahara Group companies
In a
setback to Sahara Groups's two real estate companies, the Supreme
Court Monday declined to entertain their plea to be allowed more
time to deposit investors' money with market regulator Securities
Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and file documents. "You have not
complied with it
»
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
 Turkey won’t remain silent over Syria crimes:
Erdogan
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan yesterday vowed his country will not remain silent over
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s “crimes”, as Washington
condemned »
|
|
Mali crisis disrupts education of 700,000 children:
UNICEF
"The crisis in Mali has disrupted the education of some 700,000
Malian children, leaving 200,000 still with no access to school
both in the north and south of the country, according to UNICEF
and educational authorities
»
|
|
India urged to turn its gaze on the Maghreb
The Maghreb should be the "new target" of Indian diplomacy and it
should be the "logical location for Indian companies to diversify
and expand," said Mohammed Hacene Echarif, Algeria's
ambassador to India, voicing the
»
|
|
IAF ex-chief Tyagi, 10 others named by CBI in
chopper case
Based on
the material its team got from Italy, the CBI Monday registered a
preliminary enquiry against 11 people, including former Indian Air
Force chief S.P. Tyagi, and four companies in the $750
million/Rs.3,600-crore deal for purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters
from AgustaWestland.
»
Chopper deal: India warns Italian firm of blacklisting
The curious case of Chandigarh firms in VVIP
chopper deal
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
Paratroopers in formation of Akashganga during the Indian Air
Force Fire Power demonstration Exercise 'Iron Fist 2013' at
Pokharan, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on February 22, 2013. |
|
|
|
Recommend the story to
your friends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links