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As the Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu tabled the Railway Budget for fiscal 2015-16 in Parliament on Thursday; people across the nation said they were disappointed over no new trains being announced.
"It would have been better if they had increased fares and the number of trains. There has not been even a single time when the trains are empty or comfortable to commute," said a daily commuter from Mumbai.
"They have already increased fare prices through tatkal and premium tatkal. The way it is told about cleanliness, it is not visible. Even the AC-3 tier stinks and no worker is to be seen," said Mahesh Sharma.
Budget 2015: Complete Coverage
Prabhu on Thursday said, "Have not increased the passenger fares.
"I am proposing to undertake the bringing of transparency in the day-to-day activities for the benefit of the common man.
"The functioning of railways must conform to highest standards of governance and transparency," Prabhu said.
However, people from Bhopal and Ahmedabad appeared satisfied about the announcement of utilising the Nirbhaya Fund for augmenting safer travel for women.
"The railway fare was already increased earlier, nothing surprising if they haven't raised it this time.
"The good part is they have announced an increment in women's safety,' said a local in Bhopal.
"I am happy to learn so much is being done for women," said another resident in Ahmedabad.
Image: A boy drinks tea in the early morning inside a train at Agra Cantt Railway Station in Agra. Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters