Railway Budget 2015 Live Updates Highlights: Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will announce the much awaited Railway 2015 budget at 12 noon on Thursday February 26, 2015. He said best efforts were being made to fulfil people’s aspiration in the NDA government’s first full-fledged Rail Budget. Narendra Modi’s ‘Make In India’ campaign is likely to be at the centre of Prabhu’s Railway budget. The government had announced a 14.2% hike in passenger fares and 6.5% hike in freight rates. The railways had hoped to gather Rs 8,000 crore from this move.
The latest Railway Budget evokes particular interest as it comes six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government allowed 100 per cent foreign equity in some big-ticket projects of the railways, promising it to be a game-changer for the 162-year-old network, that transports goods and passengers with an eye on social obligations.
Rail Budget 2015 Live Updates:
12:30 PM: Will reach out to private companies for funds but won’t privatise railways, says Prabhu
“Railways has to be self sustainable,” Prabhu said, adding that the railways needed to improve operating efficiency, control costs and increase revenue.
12:23 PM: Want to make Railways safer, cleaner, more efficient over next five years, says Prabhu
“Need to restore Indian Railways as the backbone of India’s transport network,” Prabhu said.
12:18 PM: Railway facilities haven’t improved over last few decades, says Prabhu
12:09 PM: There are some problems Railway Budget 2015 can’t solve
12:06 PM: Sonia Gandhi also demands apology from Naidu
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also demanded that Parliamentary Affairs Minister apologise for his statement, which was reportedly against Rahul Gandhi and his introspection.
“The minister should express regret,” she was quoted as saying in an NDTV report.
12:02 PM: “We have to make Indian Railways a global benchmark organisation in safety, security and infrastructure,” says Rail Minister Prabhu.
11:51 AM: Rail stocks make smart recovery; Sensex in red; rupee gains vs dollar
11:49 AM: We will keep in mind long term interest of Railways & interests of common man & try to balance both – Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister
11:45 AM: “There is a general expectation that the freight rates would be reduced due to the fall in diesel prices,” Ernst and Young Partner and PPP Leader Abhaya Agarwal told.
11:42 AM: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and MoS Railways Manoj Sinha at Parliament minutes before the Railway Budget is scheduled to be announced
11.39 AM: Suresh Prabhu reaches Parliament to present his maiden Rail Budget
11.37 AM: The S&P BSE Sensex is off day’s low ahead of the Rail Budget. The 30-share index is at 28,957.56, down 50.43 points and the Nifty is at 8,751.80, down 15.45 points.
11.36 AM: Expectations: An effective plan for water management at stations across the country will be adopted to save water
11.35 AM: Prabhu is likely to propose setting up of water treatment plants and recycling plants in coaching depots
11:32 PM: Won’t back down, will disrupt Lok Sabha, says Congress
11:14 PM: Naidu says he’s sorry for any statement deemed disrespectful, Congress still not happy
11:02 PM: Opposition to disrupt Rail Budget demanding Naidu’s apology?
Suresh Prabhu may face some diruption before he presents his rail budget today.
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