Opinion polarised on railway budget

BANGALORE: Senior Congress leader and  former railway minister C K Jaffer Sharief welcomed the UPA government’s Railway budget for 2012-13 which was presented in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.Sharief told Express that Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi has tried his best to present a good budget with focus on improving the railway network and safety across the country. He said that the proposed passenger fare hike was inevitable given the steep increase in fuel prices and other input costs. “The hike will not hurt the common man much as it is not steep.”‘Budget Growth-oriented’KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar described the railway budget as growth-oriented and intended to spur economic activity. He thanked Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa for introducing 10 new trains and proposing to construct four new lines in the 2012-13 railway budget.Parameshwar said that the proposal to set up a rail coach factory in Kolar will generate more employment in the region. He added that the fare hike was only only  marginal and would not burden the common man.  “The Union government has proposed to introduce new trains and survey new lines. I urge the state government to extend all cooperation to railway authorities and to ensure its implementation,” he added.