Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during the presentation of the Interim Budget 2024-25, highlighted the focus on railway development. She announced the conversion of 40,000 normal rail bogies to Vande Bharat standards, aiming to enhance passenger safety and comfort.
“Forty thousand normal rail bogies will be converted to Vande Bharat standards to enhance safety, convenience, and comfort of passengers,” stated FM Sitharaman. She further outlined three major economic railway corridor programs, including energy, mineral, and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors, and high traffic density corridors. Implementing these programs is expected to decongest high-traffic corridors, improve passenger train operations, enhance safety, and increase travel speed.
These projects, identified under the PM Gati Shakti for multi-modal connectivity, are designed to improve logistics efficiency and reduce costs, Sitharaman added.
Expressing confidence in the BJP government’s retention of power after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Sitharaman mentioned that a detailed roadmap for the pursuit of “Viksit Bharat” will be presented in the full budget in July.
In her budget presentation, Sitharaman highlighted the positive transformation of the Indian economy over the past decade, emphasizing the government’s commitment to inclusive development under the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and Sabka Vishwas.”
Acknowledging the challenges posed by the pandemic, Sitharaman noted the country’s successful navigation through them and its commitment to building an Atmanirbhar Bharat, laying solid foundations for the Amrit Kaal.
She underscored the need to focus on four major pillars: the poor, women, youth, and annadatas (farmers). The Finance Minister concluded her presentation with a positive outlook, signaling the government’s determination to continue fostering inclusive growth and development.
The upcoming Budget 2024 is expected to undergo thorough scrutiny and debates in Parliament as stakeholders assess its potential impact on the nation’s economic trajectory.
