BJP hails rail budget, Congress questions resource availability

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) The ruling BJP hailed Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu's budget for 2015-16 Thursday calling it "reformist" and "revolutionary" but opposition Congress questioned how the resources for the reforms will be generated while coalition partner Shiv Sena was also not satisfied.

"This is the first time a reformist budget has been brought for railways," Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters.

"Latest technology will be used in railways to upgrade it and make it safe. The reforms in railway will also generate more employment and boost make in India programme," he said.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar called it a revolutionary budget.

"This is a revolutionary budget. It is people-centric and incorporates the vision of the prime minister to completely revamp the railways. The railway minister has come up with some technology-oriented services that would not only ensure transparency but is also user-friendly," Javadekar said.

Congress however questioned how the government will raise the necessary resources.

"The budget is high on promises but does not talk how the resources will be generated," Congress' leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said after the budget was presented.

On the same lines, party leader Shashi Tharoor said while the ideas were "fine", there were no specifics.

"The railway budget has some very fine ideas but no specifics. What is the revenue source for the reforms, there is no credible plan," he said.

"The gap between rhetoric and results is the biggest concern. There is no specific information on how the promises will be delivered. If there is no hike in fare, where will revenue come from?" he asked.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituent Shiv Sena was also critical.

"We are completely dissatisfied with the budget. They have said so many things in the budget. But from where will the money come?" party MP Gajanan Kirtikar said.

Another NDA constituent Shiromani Akali Dal said the budget was good, but added that there was no announcements for the states.

"The philosophy of the budget reflects the prime minister's vision. It is a good budget but there are no announcements for the states,"said party MP Prem Singh Chandumajra.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh meanwhile praised the budget.

"This is a good job. He (Prabhu) has not announced new schemes and promised that he will focus on executing past measures. If he succeeds in doing so, it will be a huge accomplishment," he told reporters.