The Hindu Business Line : Chambers hail Budget as good for ‘aam aadmi’

Infrastructure development in the country will receive a major boost with sanction of the works of Eastern freight corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni, situated near Kolkata and Western corridor from Delhi to JNPT.

Our Bureau

Kolkata, Feb. 26 City Chambers of commerce, hailing the Railway Budget 2008-09 as beneficial to the ‘aam aadmi’, have by and large welcomed proposals to boost both infrastructure and spirit of enterprise, especially in eastern and north east India.

According to the Indian Chamber of Commerce, cut in freight rates for the North Eastern region by 6 per cent would significantly contribute to increased efficiency in transportation of goods and overall logistics in the region.

Welcoming the announcement with regard to 25 per cent funding of national projects from the Railways’ gross budgetary support and balance 75 per cent as additionality, the chamber is of the view that Rs 75,000 crore set aside for infrastructure should give a big thrust to businesses and organisations involved in the railway business in the region.

Infrastructure development in the country, it is felt, will receive a major boost with sanction of the works of Eastern freight corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni, situated near Kolkata and Western corridor from Delhi to JNPT.

According to Mr P.R. Agarwala, President of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, the proposed reduction in freight rates for movement of petrol and diesel will actually help in neutralisation of impact of price increases to some extent. He hailed the renewed thrust on infrastructure through steps such as online coach indication display board in overnight mail and express trains, online reservation information board, green toilets on board trains etc.

Mr K.K. Navada, President of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said introduction of new higher capacity wagons, cleanliness programme through involvement of private agencies, availability of wagons on lease basis, introduction of fire prevention devices in coaches and a dedicated line for coal movement to power stations as steps in the right direction.

New wagons

Lauding the announcement with regard to manufacture of 20,000 new wagons, he expected the West Bengal-based units to get a good share of this programme.

Regretting the silence over the allocation of funds for Kolkata Metro as also the proposed East-West dedicated freight corridor in the face of generation of additional profits of Rs 25,000 crore by the Railways, Mr Navada said as a resident of West Bengal, he felt disappointed, as Bengal received “no new Garib Rath, no extension of services, nearly no increase in frequency of existing trains, except for introduction of three new train services.

Describing the railway budget as “pragmatic and innovative”, Mr Atul Churiwal, president of Merchants Chamber of Commerce, said the initiatives announced in areas such as new lines, gauge conversion, renewal of tracks and bridges, signals and telelcom facilities and better passenger amenities were commendable.

He said augmenting earnings through higher freight loading revenues while effecting a cut in freight rates for petrol and diesel (5 per cent) and flyash (14 per cent) as praiseworthy.

More Stories on : Railway Budget | Industry Associations | West Bengal

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