Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi Calling the Railways an engine of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Railway Budget unveiled on Tuesday had its focus on transparency and passenger safety.

The Rs 149,176 crore budget presented in the Lok Sabha focussed on "transparency and integrity" as well as the safety needs of commuters, Modi said in remarks later.

The budget "keeps in mind the development of India. We can see the great use of technology also", he said.

"This budget shows where we want to take the railways and at the same time where we want to take India through the railways," the prime minister said.

The budget introduces the country's first bullet train, to ply between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and increase the speed of passenger trains up to 200 km an hour on select routes.

The budget "strengthens institutionalised mechanism" in the Indian Railway network, which carries 23 million passengers every day.

Modi said the railways play "a very important role" in the country's development.

He said the country should have paid more attention to railways after independence in 1947. "Better late than never."

Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda. Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda. This Budget shows where we want to take the railways and at the same time where we want to take India through the railways: PM on Rail Budget.

01:41 pm: Railway Budget keeps in mind the development of India. We can see the great use of technology also: PM.

01:40 pm: Rail Budget shows the important role of Railways in India's development journey: PM on Rail Budget.

01:39 pm: This Budget strengthens institutional mechanism. It focuses on transparency and integrity: PM on Rail Budget.

01:38 pm: First time there is holistic Railway Budget of modern India. Railway cannot be run on an adhoc basis: PM Modi.

01:35 pm: This budget will make Railways modern, give service to citizens: PM Narendra Modi.



01:25 pm: They seem to be accusing previous governments of wasting revenue. The rail minister hasn't spoken about anything new but made criticism: Former railway minister Pawan Bansal.



01:17 pm: Rail Minister says ministry is in losses so how will the proposed modernisation take place, asks Mayawati.

01:16 pm: BSP chief Mayawati attacks Sadananda Gowda over high-speed trains.



01:13 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm after uproar.

01:10 pm: New trains: 5 Jansadharan, 5 Premium and 6 AC, 27 Express Trains, 8 Passenger, 5 DEMU and 2 MEMU services; 11 train extensions.

01:07pm: 27 express trains to be introduced, 5 new Jansadharan trains to be introduced: Sadananda Gowda.

01:04 pm: 29 rail projects in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with Rs 20,680 crores will be completed: Sadananda Gowda.

01:00 pm: Will provide summer internships to undergraduate students from engineering background: Sadananda Gowda.



12:55 pm: Solar energy to be harnessed through PPP by utilizing rooftop spaces of stations and railway buildings-Sadananda Gowda.

12:54 pm: Gowda announces decision to launch diamond quadrilateral of high speed trains.

12:53 pm: Will develop 10 metro stations with state-of-the-art facilities: Gowda.

12:50 pm: I propose WiFi systems on all A1 category stations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:47 pm: To allot Rs 1,780 Crore to eliminate unmanned level crossings: Sadananda Gowda.



I propose retiring rooms on all stations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:46 pm: Efforts will be made to increase the speed of trains to 160-200 km on selected sectors: Sadananda Gowda.



12:45 pm: I propose bullet trains, Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector has been identified :Sadananda Gowda.

12:43 pm: 4,000 women RPF personnel will be deployed: Sadananda Gowda.

Ticket bookings through post offices and mobile phones will be popularised, also coin operated ticket machines: Sadananda Gowda.

12:41 pm: Severe action to be taken against vendors delivering unhygienic food, including cancellation of contracts-Sadananda Gowda.

12:40 pm: CCTVs at stations will be used to monitor cleaning activities: Sadananda Gowda.

12:39 pm: Will introduce RO drinking water in trains and on stations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:38 pm: Propose to outsource cleaning responsibility on 50 stations to specialist cleaning agencies: Sadananda Gowda.

Want battery operated cars for senior citizens at railway stations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:36 pm: I propose to introduce pre-cooked and ready to eat meals of reputed brands: Sadananda Gowda.

12:35 pm: Through PPP route want to provide foot-over bridges, escalators and lifts across all stations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:34 pm: Share of Railways in freight traffic came down consistently: Gowda.

12:33 pm: Surplus revenues declining. Hardly any resources for development works. Rs 5 lakh crore required for ongoing projects alone: Gowda.

12:32 pm: Gross traffic receipts in 2013-14 was Rs 12,35,558 crore, operating ratio was 94 per cent: Sadananda Gowda.

12:31 pm: Surplus revenues declining. Hardly any resources for development work: Sadananda Gowda.

12:30 pm: Need Rs 50,000 crore every year for the next ten years for Railways: Sadananda Gowda.

Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda 12:29 pm: Ministry of Railways is seeking Cabinet approval for FDI in Railways, except Railway operations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:28 pm: Need to have private-public partnership to improve condition of Railways: Sadananda Gowda.

12:25 pm: The medicine may act bitter in the beginning but will be a nectar in the end: Sadananda Gowda.

12:24 pm: Managing the Railways takes most of our resources. We spend 94 per cent of our earnings, are left with just 6 per cent: Sadananda Gowda.



12:23 pm: There had been focus on sanctioning projects rather than completing them: Sadananda Gowda.

12:22 pm: There are 4 projects that are over 30 years old but have still not been completed: Sadananda Gowda.

12:20 pm: Need to balance social and commercial obligations: Sadananda Gowda.

12:17 am: Our target is to become the largest freight carrier in the world: Sadananda Gowda.



12:15 pm: I am flooded with requests for new trains and better facilities.

12:14 pm: I owe this opportunity to the people of India: Sadananda Gowda.



12:12 pm: Railways are the soul of Indian economy: Sadananda Gowda.

12:11 pm: I am greatful to PM Modi for having reposed his faith in me: Sadananda Gowda.

Rail Minister Sadananda Gowda begins his budget speech.



11:50 am: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda to present Rail Budget shortly.



11:12 am: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda reaches Parliament.



11:00 am: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and MoS Manoj Sinha leave for Parliament to present Railway Budget.

10:58 am: Even if we start work on bullet trains today it would take 5 to 7 years for it to launch but we must dream: Tilak Seth, CII.



Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and MoS Manoj Sinha leave for Parliament. Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and MoS Manoj Sinha leave for Parliament. Congress sources say that party will not disrupt the Rail Budget if Speaker Sumitra Mahajan gives assurance of discussion on price rise and LoP status to Congress.



10:50 am: The maiden Railway Budget for the Narendra Modi government is set to propose steps to boost the department's revenues, as it is saddled with a huge cash cruch of Rs 26,000 crore amid a decline in the growth in passenger earnings.

10:40 am: Railways is like our Jersey cow. Our political system has never understood this: Former Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi.



10:25 am: Going to present my maiden budget as a rail minister today. Hope we are able to meet public expectations: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda.

Going to present my maiden budget as a @RailMinIndia minister today. Hope we are able to meet public expectations. ; Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) July 8, 2014

Expect safety for women and cleanliness. Women appealed to me and I asked from him: Railway Minister's wife Datty Sadananda.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Impossible to run bullet trains on current tracks, says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

10:14 am: Railway Board should be abolished. They are most reluctant in adopting modernity and behave like feudal lords: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.



10:09 am: Yes, we faced problems during our time in Railway Ministry. We paid more attention to populism: Former MoS Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

10:00 am: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda expected to announce more public-private partnerships in Railway infrastructure.

09:45 am: I am not against the idea of bullet trains but it should not be at the cost of basic Railway requirements: BJD leader Jay Panda.



Datty Sadananda Datty Sadananda 09:35 am: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda leaves to attend BJP parliamentary party meet.

09:26 am: We welcome the idea of bullet trains but more important is to connect more districts to metro cities: NCP leader Tariq Anwar.



09:20 am: You will get to know everything at 12 pm: MoS Railways Manoj Sinha on Rail Budget.



09:15 am: Made detailed plans for getting in the suggestions of the common man: Railway Board chairman Arunendra Kumar.



09:00 am: We want to make Railways people friendly, says Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda.



Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and MoS for Railways Manoj Sinha giving finishing touches to the Rail Budget 2014. Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and MoS for Railways Manoj Sinha giving finishing touches to the Rail Budget 2014. 08:55 am: Our emphasis will be on the use if technology. Railways to use social media: Sadananda Gowda.



08:50 am: Focus will be on the use of I-T enabled services: Gowda.



08:45 am: Passenger safety and security are our top priorities: Sadananda Gowda.



08:37 am: We will introduce bullet trains soon, says Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda.



08:30 am: Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda to present his maiden Rail Budget today.

