The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today welcomed the proposals of the Union Railway Budget for the year 2014-15 and described it as growth oriented and passenger friendly which would propel all round development and prosperity in the country. In a statement on the NDA’s maiden Railway Budget, presented by the Union Railways Minister Mr. DV Sadananda Gowda in which he introduced 58 new trains, the Chief Minister hailed the initiative of the Union Government to put Indian railways firmly on the track of development. Mr. Badal said that Prime Minister Mr. Modi’s brainchild to introduce Bullet Trains in the country would put India on the global map of world class railways and the day was not far off when India would be reckoned internationally as a front runner nation amongst the high speed railways.
The Chief Minister also welcomed the announcement to start five new trains including Saharasa–Amritsar Jansadharan Express, Nagpur–Amritsar (Weekly), Ferozepur–Chandigarh Express (6 days a week) and New Delhi ¬Bhatinda Shatabdi Express (Bi¬weekly) besides three others passing through Punjab namely Indore–Jammu Tawi Express(Weekly), Kamakhya–Katra Express(Weekly)via Darbhanga and Kanpur–Jammu Tawi Express (Bi¬weekly), whereas 54602 Ludhiana–Hissar Passenger has been extended to Sadulpur. Mr. Badal said that these trains would certainly boost trade and commercial activity in the state besides providing rail connectivity to the land locked state of Punjab. He also complimented the Centre’s unique initiative for the modernization of railway infrastructure besides taking path breaking decisions like the recruitment of 4000 women constables to ensure safety and security of women passenger and providing Wifi internet at select stations and in trains.The Chief Minister also appreciated the decision of introducing a special pilgrim train covering the entire Sikh religious circuit joining all the five Takhats across the Country.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal termed the budget as a dream budget for Punjab as it has given state's overdue share. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Railway was a life line of the Indian economy and our Visionary Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi has put his stamp on the budget aiming to transform the fortune of Railways. Mr. Badal also said that announcement of Public –Private partnership to strengthen the infrastructure in railway was a step towards modernization of British era network.Thanking the Prime Minister of India and Union Railway Minister Sada Nand Gaura by giving the due of Punjab after a decade, Badal said that announcement of new five trains for Punjab would provide better railway connectivity to the other parts of the country, necessary for the growth of any state. Besides that announcement to establish world class food court at Amritsar Railway station would give a fillip to the tourism sector in the border region, he added.