Hinting at railway budget reforms, Jaitley says passengers must pay for services received
The minister was delivering inaugural address at the National Conference on Accounting Reforms in Indian Railways organised jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the Railway Ministry.
For the first time in the history of budget presentation in India, the Railway budget will be merged with the Union Budget.
The minister emphasized that the Union government will avoid populist measures and make consumers pay for the services received.
As the Indian Railways mentions on all tickets bought, it recovers only 57 per cent of the costs from passengers, indicating the rest is subsidised.
The focus will be on improving the railway station infrastructure and monetise railway assets for commercial activities, the media quoted the minister as saying.
Addressing the gathering at the conference, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said, "We have to bring in the concept of productivity in the accounting reform."
Images: Suresh Prabhu Twitter
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