Mamata to present rail budget on Jul 8

New Delhi, Jun 3: Mamata Banerjee, railway minister is likely to present the railway budget in the Lok Sabha on Jul 8.

A senior ministry official said, "The railway budget is likely to be presented on July 8. The ministry is preparing a status report to be presented before the railway minister. The report is to be submitted in a day or two and after that the budget outline will be drawn by the minister."

The ministry is likely to distribute about Rs 14,000 crore to its staff because of the implementation of the sixth pay commission in the current fiscal. The official said that the current operating ratio is likely to be affected due to the implementation of the pay commission report.

The official also said that the railways have often made passengers upset for low quality food being served and unhygienic conditions. He added, "Some drastic measures need to be taken to improve passenger amenities like food quality and cleanliness in trains."

Some of the priorities which the ministry have put forward are to enhance capacity of rolling stock including gauge conversion, doubling and laying new lines, acquisition of new coaches and wagons. The budget will also focus in upgrading security stations in metropolitan cities.

OneIndia News