PM praises ‘forward looking’ rail budget

The rail budget was “forward looking” and emphasised on safety as well as modernisation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.

“The Railways Minister has presented a forward looking Budget with emphasis on safety and modernisation of the Indian Railways,” the prime minister said in a statement soon after union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi presented his budget in the Lok Sabha. The budget announced a fare hike after eight years.

“The Budget for 2012-13 has been formulated against the background of railways’ responsibilities in meeting the demands of the 12th Plan,” Manmohan Singh said.