Rail budget fabulous says Cong, Oppn says its disappointing

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) Terming the railway budget as 'fabulous'', the Congress today said that the budget showing Rs 20,000 crore profit was growth oriented and reduced the train fares for all.

However, the Left parties and the Samajwadi Party did not share this optimism of the Congress and said that the budget has not done much for the common man and shows that the Railways are moving towards privatisation.

Senior Congress leader and Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here that no previous Railway Minister has presented such a budget which Mr Lalu Prasad has done. He has used the principle of economics of scale by which the volume would increase while price will be reduced and the Railways would make profit.

Stating that the overall picture of the Railway budget was very good and the Railway Minister has moved in the right direction, he said that in the new budget space has been increased by new trains and coaches and adding wagons. Wooden sleepers have been replaced and many other facilities been provided.

On the question of security in trains, Mr Sibal said that ''terror blasts like Samjhauta Express could happen anywhere as terrorists could penetrate anywhere.''' However, a new Committee has been constituted to look into the safety and security of passengers.

Asserting that the number of train accidents have decreased recently, Mr Sibal said that railways was doing everything and taking all steps to ensure that the number of accidents were decreased.

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