Rail budget disappointing: Himachal CM

Shimla, Feb 26 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Thursday described the railway budget as average, full of hollow promises and rather disappointing for the people of the hill state.

"It's an average budget which is full of hollow ideas and promises without any substance. It's a rather disappointing budget, especially for the people of Himachal Pradesh," he said in a statement.

The chief minister said it was unfortunate that despite the state's repeated requests for extension of rail lines in the state, especially the Bilaspur-Bhanupali-Beri-Leh railway line which will link the state with neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir and crucial from the strategic point of view, no announcement was made.

He said the central government had again completely ignored the proposals of the state for extension of rail lines and conversion of existing rail tracks into broad gauge.

Singh said no single announcement has been made on starting new trains.

"The common man was expecting reduction in rail fare and as far as modernisation of the railways is concerned, no clear indication has been made how resources would be generated," he said.

He said in the previous rail budget, presented by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, a few surveys for new lines and extension were announced but they also failed to find mention in this budget.