Railway Budget Disappoints Telangana, AP People

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu appears to have failed to satisfy the people of both the two Telugu States in the 2016-17 railway budget.

It may be mentioned here that the Union government had promised, while bifurcating the State, the creation of a Visakha Railway Zone, but the railway minister hasn't even spoken about it in the budget.

The minister hasn't extended support to the proposal of the MMTS being extended to Yadadri, either, and has not sanctioned the Kazipet railway coach factory in Telangana, either.

The main development issues in the two Telugu States are:

1. The Nadikudi-Srikalahasthi line
2. The Macherla-Miryalaguda line
3. The Guntur-Gunthkallu line
4. The Bhuvanagiri-Nadikudi line
5. The MMTS extension up to Yadadri
6. Double line projects between Kadapa and Bangalore, Thumkuru and Rayadurgam, Bhimavaram and Narasapuram, and Devarapalli-Penugonda.

The Minister has not mentioned of these projects in the budget. He introduced only special trains to the pilgrim stations, smart coaches, charging points, IVRS numbers and Wifi in the trains. He has not proposed any new trains, not extended any trains, and not allotted funds to the earlier projects.

Also, Suresh Prabhu stated that Wifi services were being provided by the Central government, but the Wifi services are in reality being provided by Microsoft and Google.

The only factor that came as a relief to the common man is that the fares have not been increased.