<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[POLITICAL PARTIES
BJP spokesman V. K. Malhotra: "The Railway Budget presented by Lalu Prasad Yadav is disappointing… He made announcements about 'kullars' being used in the trains, about encouragement being given to 'khadi' and vegetables and milk being transported in air-conditioned carriers. All such announcements end up as jokes."
Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan: "It is people friendly, growth oriented and extremely productive."
CPI MP Gurudas Dasgupta: "We staged a walkout against privatisation and Bengal being neglected. I don't think the Kerala MPs understood what was happening, so they stayed on."
West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta: "The state has been deprived yet again in terms of introduction of new trains, development of infrastructure and improvement of suburban services."
Trinamool leader Mamata Bannerjee: "West Bengal and many other states have been neglected. There is no proposal for new lines and gauge conversion.''
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa: "The Railway Budget 2008-09, which is the last Railway budget of the UPA government is purported to be a 'please all' budget but all that it has done is to please the minister himself immensely."
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar: "This is disappointing."
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda: "Decisions like preference to minorities in recruitment board, introduction of free seasons tickets for female students till graduate level, 50 per cent discount for senior women citizens and increased concessions for undergraduate students would immensely benefit the people."
INDUSTRY
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions: "There is also distinct lack of emphasis in building and strengthening railway stations in North East states and Jammu and Kashmir, where progress is very slow."
Confederation of Indian Industry: "This reduction will help offset to some extent the impact of the hike in fuel prices".
FICCI Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar: "The announcement to cut rates by 5 per cent is a good and strong anti-inflationary measure."
Assocham President Venugopal Dhoot: "Some freight relaxations should have been extended to steel and cement industry as well."
Essar Steel Holdings CEO J Mehra: "The Railway Budget 2008-09 is both balanced and a forward looking one. I commend the minister for his focus on developing exclusive freight corridors for iron ore and coal to meet growing needs of emerging sectors like steel and power."
Tata Steel Chief Operating Officer H. M. Nerurkar: "The budget promises a lot of action and it has many initiatives that can be taken forward. We would also like to congratulate the Minister (Lalu Prasad) for presenting a surplus budget of 25,000 crore and provisions for use of IT and also proposal for investment in infrastructure."
Shubhada Rao, chief economist, Yes Bank, Mumbai: "The minister has tried to address debottlenecking between the ports and mainland. The budget will help in easing the transit of crucial commodities."
South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry President M. Balasubramanian: "The extension of rail network to the Ennore port is a step in the right direction, which will facilitate a choice in mode of transport to and from the port. Cargo freights have been untouched but at the same time the fare for the AC and second sleeper has been reduced."
COMMON PEOPLE
Shekhar Gehlot, chartered accountant: "This budget has once again proved that Prasad is largely concerned about the passengers' comfort and safety. Once again he has offered fares cut in all classes."
Shubhankar Thakur, senior financial analyst: "Prasad's determination to end the long queues at railway stations within two years will help in saving energy and time.
Pankaj Dwivedi, senior financial advisor with a bank: "I am not very much impressed with this budget as in the past nothing has been done except announcements and this time also, it is the same old story. Cut in the railway fares are also meager."
Sunil Rajoria, exporter: "My work demands me to travel to different places and I travel by train only and I prefer e-ticketing service, but non-availability of seats most of the time adds to my burden."
Madhusudan Paswan, a porter from Patna: "I came here in 1976 and so far nobody had taken care of us. Now our life is secure so we are happy."