Rail Budget farce, has nothing new: Opposition

The Opposition said that whatever new lines have been proposed by Laloo had already been approved by the previous NDA government.

Opposition on Tuesday slammed the Railway Budget 2004-05 as a "farce" saying there was "nothing new" in it, but welcomed the decision to provide free travel to youth appearing for job interviews and "village-on-wheels" enabling the elderly to travel to pilgrim spots.

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"There is nothing new in the Budget and whatever new lines have been proposed by the minister, had already been approved by the previous NDA government," Opposition leaders said and wondered from where the government proposed to raise the resources without increasing fares and freight rates.

The Congress and other allies of the UPA government, however, rubbished the criticism of the Opposition parties saying it would not be fair to comment right at the beginning that there would be no money for the projects.

Describing the Budget as "anti-development", BJP leader VK Malhotra said increase in parcel rates will affect the people and that introduction of kulhars (earthen cups) and khadi was nothing but a drama.

He said the announcement of new trains had in fact been made by the previous government and expressed serious doubts as to how Railways would raise the resources for new projects.

"There is nothing new in the Budget. Railway Minister Laloo Prasad has only repeated what had been stated in the earlier budget of running 18 new trains," said JD(U) leader Prabhunath Singh.