Depoliticize Railway, increase outlay: Dinesh Trivedi

Speaking ahead of the presentation of the Railway Budget 2014 by Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda, Trivedi said the outlay for railway has to be increased like in China and modernisation has to take place.

Speaking to a TV channel, Trivedi, whose only budget was widely hailed during the UPA regime but by his own party chief, said Indian Railway coaches ferry passengers like prisoners during war times and hence they should be first given some dignity.

He said there should be a look ahead policy.

He told a channel that Railway should be freed from politics, probably meaning using it for political gains and populism.

The Centre will announce its first Railway Budget on Tuesday ahead of which Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said his top priority is to the bring the Railway back on track and improve passenger amenities and safety standards along with innovation.

He said he wants to bring back the smile in the face of commuters permanently.

Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda, who will present his maiden Railway Budget in a while, said he will also keep in mind the present generation of travellers and their needs.

Bullet trains and thrust on modernisation and safety will be his priority.

He said he is taking stock of realities and what can be done.

He said he is trying his level best based to enter into all areas in a short span of one month and act on the feedback in media.

The government had already announced  pre-Budget hike of 14.2 percent in passenger fares and raised freight rate by 6.5 percent.recently.