Rail Budget focus on backward areas: Rathwa

Indore, Mar 2 (UNI) Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai J Rathwa today claimed that the Railway Budget for 2007-08 specially focussed on tribal and backward areas and they would continue to be emphasised on in coming years.

''The Centre is endeavouring to link tribal areas with the development mainstream by connecting them with the railway network.

The Budget also paid attention to the security aspect,'' he told reporters here.

Responding to Bharatiya Janata Party allegations that the Budget actually neglected tribal and backward areas, the Minister turned the tables on the saffron party by asking what it did for the areas during its tenure.

Replying to questions raised by the Shiv Sena about the Mumbai transit terror victims' families being granted ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each while the corresponding figure was Rs 10 lakh in the Samjhauta Express case, he said, ''that is the privilege of the Railway Minister. I cannot comment on it. The standard in railway accidents is Rs 25,000 for the deceased's families and Rs 5,000 for the injured.'' Assuring that railway facilities would be expanded here, the Minsiter added that he had directed the Railway Board to look into the construction of a new station. Earlier, a cameraman was injured in a scuffle involving Congress workers at the station.

UNI