HIMANSHU SHEKHAR | हिमांशु शेखर

Much expected steps to curb price rise was not seen in the Budget. Instead of announcing some steps to check the rising prices of essential goods, Mukherjee announced an increase in custom and excise duty on petroleum product. It means that government is not willing to check the rising prices. Any surge in petroleum prices multiplies to price rise of essential goods. Experts are saying that fuel price rise would push up food inflation and they fear that high food prices may push broader inflation to 10% next month.

Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee was presenting Rail Budget in Parliament but she was eyeing Writer’s Building of Kolkata. Mamta Banerjee has announced to develop 94 Adarsh stations across the country. Out of these, 28 are in Bengal. On the other hand she has announced to develop 22 stations of Bengal to multi-functional complex. Minister of Railway announced 16 Bharat Tirth trains in her Budget speech. Out of these five will start from Howrah. She has announced 10 new Duronto trains and Bengal got three of these. Bengal has got 17 of the 53 new express trains announced by Mamta in her Budget Speech.