Watch: Boosted by PM Modi, Suresh Prabhu puts railway on fast track

Presenting a railway budget in which passenger fares were not increased and no new trains were announced, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said that Indian Railways will continue to serve the common man and people of India will always own the railways industry while presenting the rail budget 2015.

Prabhu announced four key goals for the Railway Budget 2015, which he said would be “an integral part of flagship programmes launched by PM Modi”.

He also said that better customer service, safer train travel, modernisation of infrastructure and self-sustainability of railways were the four primary goals of the budget.

The Railway Minister added that the ministry intended to spend 1686 crores over the next year for the project and said this distance was 84% higher than last year.

Moreover, a 24/7 all-India helpline, number 138, is to be launched from 1 March so that passengers can register complaints in real time if they find something wrong with railway services. The Nirbhaya fund is to be used for women’s security and as a part of it CCTV cameras are to be installed in ladies’ compartment on select mainlines.

(With inputs from PTI)