GCCI welcomes railway budget
The railway budget proposals for the year 2003-2004 have been welcomed by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. GCCI lauded the decision of the Union minister not to raise railway fare and freight charges.

President of GCCI, Mahendra Shah said, "Care and concern expressed by railway minister Nitish Kumar for safety, security measures, public conveniences and cleanliness at the railway stations and in trains is important. Besides, the saving of Rs 855 crores through cost cutting measures introduced in the proposed budget will help in strengthening railway finances," according to a release.

The decision to inaugurate the Ahmedabad division with effect from April 1 this year is a welcome step. Although the railways is trying to mobilise additional resources for modernisation and expansion to provide enhanced facilities and services in the Customer Service Year being observed by the railways, private participation should be invited to meet the necessary fund requirement.

Five new trains have been introduced in the state which is dismal considering the fact that a total of 50 new trains have been introduced in the country. The release added that insofar as Gujarat is concerned, the budget did not offer anything substantial. No provision has been made for the third railway line between Ahmedabad and Bombay, as was expected. Besides, the salt industry will suffer due to change in the classification of railway freight according to the last year’s budget. The provision of conversion of medium gauge to broad gauge in the Rajkot-Junagadh, Rajkot-Veraval and Dhola-Bhavnagar is also inadequate, the release added.

Republished from The Asian Age