Rail budget directionless,unrealistic: Modi

He added that the series of injustices heaped by the UPA government on a fast developing state like Gujarat is still on. Modi said the lack of political will is evident in the budget,adding that the credibility of Railways has declined over the years in the matter of freight movement.

In this regard,he had earlier suggested setting up of a national railway fare and freight inquiry committee and had also stressed on the need of qualitative reforms in the railway infrastructure network.

Modi also pointed at “dual” policy of the UPA government about privatisation of the Railways.

He said while the UPA government wants to invest government funds for new rail lines in other states,Gujarat is being asked to

follow the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) model for similar projects for port connectivity.

“Gujarat has been ignored in announcements regarding new repairs and manufacturing facilities of Railways. Gujarat has 40 per cent of the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor passing from the state and there has been an announcement of ten auto hubs in the Budget,but the state figures nowhere in that,” said Modi.

He said he is also unhappy over the appeasement of minorities in the Budget in the form of concessions in the recruitment exam fees.

Modi also criticised the Railway Minister for not shifting the Western Railway headquarters from Mumbai to Ahmedabad,a proposal that the NDA government had failed to accomplish in its tenure.