The SP has also criticised the budget. “This is a popular budget. While UP has got some gifts, many expectations remain unfulfilled. The plan to connect Etawah, Saifai and Mainpuri to Agra should have been taken up with urgency,” said party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary.

The Congress, hoping for a favourable budget considering its government at the Centre, is also disappointed as it had demanded halts for some trains at certain stations but most were ignored. “Budget mein kafi kuch hai UP ke liye but humari expectations kuch aur hi thi,” said a senior leader.

UP neglected in budget: Maya

Lucknow: Reacting to the Rail Budget, UP Chief Minister Mayawati said industrial, religious and other important places have been grossly neglected in the budget.

She said though the railway minister had referred to the policy of ‘inclusive development’ in her speech, no new initiative is taken to bring poor people living in remote areas to the mainstream.

Mayawati said the budget proposes only Rs 1 rebate in fare for poor people, but 2 per cent rebate has been proposed in fare for higher class. She said proposals made in the budget indicated that the ‘inclusive gowth’ slogan of the UPA government was hollow and misleading.

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