Citizens of Pune welcome Railway Budget

Pune, Feb 26 (UNI) Barring the fact that there was still no announcement of an independent train from the city, citizens of Pune in general welcomed the Railway Budget which includes special trains between the city and Delhi during the Commonwealth Youth Games, among other highlights.

The denizens of Pune welcomed various higlights of the Railway Budget presented today by the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad viz increase of ten trains on different routes, concessions to students, women (senior citizens), AIDS patients, a better future for porters and special trains between the city and Delhi during the Commonwealth Youth Games as promised by the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Railway Budget presented today.

Interacting with mediapersons, Kanuubhai Trivedi of Pune Pravasi Sangh said that there will be less accidents as the Railway Minister has stated that all the gates will be manned. ''This will create more employment and lessen accidents. The porters have been given a promise of a better future. Focus on Internet facilities and more cleanliness are welcome steps,'' he said.

Manjulata Mehta of Sadi Mahila Sangh welcomed the 50 per cent concessions to women senior citizens and students. ''This will benefit women and children, specially those living in rural areas,'' she said.

However, Devi Singh Raj Purohit from the Masdhar Railway Vikas Sangh rued that the city has 1.16 lakh Rajasthanis and still there were no adequate trains to Jodhpur, Jaipur and Ajmer even after 20 years.

Others who spoke include representatives from Pune, Pravasi Sangh, Rail Travel Service Agents Association, Uttar Bhartiya Rail Pravasi Sangh, Rajasthani Railway Pravasi Sangh, Nagar Pravasi Sangh, Masdhar Railway Vikas Sangh, Sadi Mahila Sangh, Travel Agents Association and Pune Merchants Chamber.

They pointed out that the railway budget ''as usual'' had ignored the needs of a growing city like Pune. ''With increasing traffic, there is still no independent train and the city is still not directly connected to Nashik,'' they said.

''The Daund Manmad line should have been doubled,'' they opined.

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