With the recent increases in the prices of petrol and diesel, all the eyes were glued to the successor of Lalu Yadav to sprinkle some reasons to smile. And it sure did, as she declared that there would not be any hike in the freight rates. As the new Railway Minister, Mamta Banerjee, tabled her third Rail Budget budget today in the assembly, experts have started analyzing how ‘realistic’ the budget is.

Mamta begin with stating that her focus would be on providing passengers with better amenities, better toilets, good food at affordable prices, and ‘environmental-friendly’ clean toilets at stations and trains.

The budget seems to provide a respite to people who were expecting Mamta to deliver a people- friendly budget. Calling her budget ‘a budget by the people, of the people’ Mamta stated the salient features of her budget.

Making the speech, Mamta said that the unrealistic high targets of Interim Budget are not sustainable.

The Tatkal scheme, which was increased to five days by the previous Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was cut down to two days.

She also announced the introduction of Non-stop AC 'Turant' trains and 12 new 'Turant' AC sleeper trains between major metros. 

The Kolkata people have reasons to cheer as Mamta Didi announced the further extension of the Kolkata Metro. The ladies Special will be extended to Kolkatta, Chennai and Delhi. The minority students will get metro concession in Kolkata.

Mamta also announced the introduction of a new scheme for low-income group called ‘Izzat’.

The railways will now lease out land for commercial purpose. Colleges will be opened on railway land through public-private partnership.

New train information system will be started in Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and around 50 mobile rail ticket vans will be introduced to make ticketing convenient.
To add to the number of facilities being proposed are ATMs on 200 mid and small sized stations. Passengers would be able to buy tickets from Post Offices and receive SMS update on waitlisted tickets

The hospitals for the railways staff will be further developed and a special recruitment drive will be done to fill up vacancies for the physically challenged. Specially designed coaches will be introduced for the differently-abled.

49 stations of religious importance will be upgraded and ambulance facilities will be introduced in long-distance trains with one doctor deputed for the services of the ill.

Expert committee on socially unviable projects will be set up and special attention will be paid on tightening security on the trains and platforms.
309 out of 370 stations identified for development and the Railway Minister expects to do this through private-public partnership. Over 50 stations will be developed to meet world-class standards. 

Following the 26/11 the CST Mumbai station along, with, Pune, Nagpur, Howrah, Sealdah stations will  also be developed.