Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said the Government’s efforts would be to complete ongoing projects in a timely manner. Denying allegations that he had discriminated against certain States, he said he had not politicised rail development.

Gowda was responding to the discussion on the Railway Budget here on Tuesday.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the logic of presenting a separate budget for the Railways. “As long as you have separate budget, you cannot turn around the Railways,” he said. He urged the Centre to focus on building bio-toilets in trains.

Gowda said eastern and north-eastern States will continue to get the Centre’s attention in developing rail links. All capitals will be linked within the next three years. Mobilisation of funds and enhancing passenger amenities would be his second and third priorities, the Minister said.

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