The maiden Railway Budget of Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was greeted with mixed responses from India Inc. While most were impressed with the promised reforms, a few demanded more clarity.
“The enhanced customer experience augurs well from both an inbound and domestic perspective. Connectivity to Kashmir and the North-East immediately puts them back on the tourist radar and Rs 2,000 crore for Coastal Connectivity Programme will reinforce the focus on tourism in South India as well,” Thomas Cook India Managing Director Madhavan Menon said.
The India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) has welcomed the Railway Budget 2015. “We believe the steps outlined by the Minister will motivate the electronics industry and bring cheer to the travellers through technology integration,” IESA Chairman Ashok Chandak said.
“The Railway Budget has focused on getting the basics back on track and has not succumbed to the temptation of showering travellers with new trains on an already burdened network,” Alstom Transport India Managing Director Bharat Salhotra said.
The food industry is upbeat about the Railway Budget. According to Gits Foods Products Director (Marketing & Sales) Sahil Gilani, “This Budget aims at revolutionising the Indian Railways in all aspects including its food offerings.”
JSW Steel Deputy Managing Director Vinod Nowal said: “Commitment of making the freight-business simpler through decentralisation and deregulation measures is of vital importance for manufacturing. We applaud it.”
But the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (Kassia) is disappointed. “From the perspective of the MSME sector, there is hardly anything concrete on offer, which is really a great opportunity missed by the Railway Minister,” rued Kassia President Chidananda M Rajamane.
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