THE RAIL BUDGET – 2009

On 3rd July 2009, when Ms Mamta Banerjee the currrent rail minister of our country entered the parliament to present the rail budget for the year 2009, the entire nation holded their hands to see whether the she gets something new and promising for the country. People were satisfied to some extent by the steps taken by Mr. Lalu Prasad yadav to convert a continuous loss making organisation into a profit making one. Every one was trying to present their own budgets by giving there expert advice but ultimately the ball was in her court. She gave hints by saying before the budget "It will be a common man's budget". And as usual Mamta Banerjee gave something which no one ever expected.

It was humble “jhola” rather than the traditional “leather bag” which she preffered to carry budget paper in the parliament. The patent cloth bag she usually carries hung from her shoulders as she arrived in Parliament to present the Railway Budget 2009-10. Also, the car in which she came was her personal Maruti Zen rather than the official vehicle she has chosen not to take from the government. Before entering into the house she gave a statement “Its Janta Budget” and it she gave what she said.

This budget was mostly in and around the common people and the problems they undergo in their day to day life. It can be easily seen that the entire focus was the “common man”. She stated at the very beginning of her speech that the main focus of her budget would be passenger aminities, cleanliness, quality of railway catering, safety & security, and punctuality. The introduction of non-stop two point trains (stated as “DURONTO” was one of the aggenda which no one even thought for. She declaired to develop 50 stations to world class stations. There was also lots of new creative arangements like Adarsh stations, Mushkil Asan, Izzat, ladies special during peak hours in kolkata, chennai and Delhi., Yuva trains, etc. Her focus can also be seen regarding security of the passengers as she had something for this also in her budget like woman security guards, Doctors in long distance trains, etc. Beside all this large number of new schemes and new trains have been launched. Overall the budget was satisfactory as it was more a consumer oriented budget.

Now the most important question which arises is that will she impliment all the undertakings in the similar fashion as she had announced it? Will she be able to give the same profits which was given by privious minister? This are the questions which will be resolved as the time passes. It should not act as a candy shown to a small kid and then taken away. The revenue chart will definitely show some fluctuations as there is lot to be done.

On a concluding note the budget covered every person and will definitely act as a new milestone for the country in the perioud of global downturn.