Railway Budget passed

Lok Sabha passes Railway Budget for 2013-14

New Delhi , Wed, 13 Mar 2013 ANI

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New Delhi, Mar. 13 (ANI): The Lok Sabha passed the Railway Budget for fiscal 2013-14 on Wednesday.
The budget, which was passed amidst an opposition boycott, provides for the withdrawal of 63 thousand and 363 crore rupees from the Consolidated Fund of India to achieve the targets announced in the budget.
Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, while replying to the discussions, assured the house that all railway projects announced in the Budget will be taken up. He ruled out any discrimination while allocating funds as the Railways considers the whole country as a single unit.
Bansal, who defended the marginal increase in the fares of passengers this time, said they had remained unchanged for the last twelve years.
Asserting that every effort has been made to protect the interests of two crore thirty lakh rail passengers who travel by trains every day across the country, Bansal said he will do his utmost to provide better amenities to passengers, and added that their safety will be his prime concern.
The Railway Minister also announced that all awardees of the Paramveer Chakra and Mahaveer Chakra will now get free AC first class passes to travel in Rajadhani and Shatabdi Express trains.
Passes issued to the recipients of gallantry awards will now be valid for three years. (ANI)