Raipur, July 3 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has said the rail budget for the current fiscal presented in parliament Friday is “disappointing” as it offered nothing but three new trains to the mineral rich state.
Durg-Jaipur, Bilaspur-Hyderabad and Ambikapur-Jabalpur are the three new trains the state has got in the budget presented by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The chief minister had last month sent a wishlist to the railways ministry, asking for five new railway lines to cover the state’s under-developed but mineral-rich pockets. But the budget has made no reference to these demands.

“It looks a disappointing one. Earlier, the railway budget was Bihar-centric, now this one is dedicated to West Bengal,” Singh told reporters here.

However, the state unit of the Congress party welcomed the budget, saying it has addressed the requirements of all states including Chhattisgarh.

“Despite the economic downturn, no hike was made in passenger fare or freight rates. The budget is focussed on improving passengers amenities which is highly appreciating,” Congress state spokesman Ramesh Varlyani said.

He rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government’s charges that Chhattisgarh was neglected.

Besides the new trains, the Bilaspur and Raipur stations will be developed as “Adarsh stations” that will have better basic facilities.