Budget 2021 With Anil Singhvi: EXCLUSIVE! Big COVID-19 impact on Indian Railways' allocation likely | Know how much and what here

Budget 2021 With Anil Singhvi: Owing to limited income of the Indian Railways due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is not in the mood to enhance financial allocation for the Union Minister Piyush Goyal led ministry. According to an exclusive Zee Business report, the Finance Minister may not increase Indian Railways' annual budget by more than 3-5 per cent. However, the report went on to add that in next financial year, Nirmala Sitharaman may choose to announce modernisation of the railway platforms, more passengers' amenities and connectivity of the North East with main land.

Revealing the intentions of the government in regard to the Indian Railways in Budget 2021, Zee Business reporter Sameer Dixit said, "My sources in the Ministry of Finance have informed that Nirmala Sitharaman may not announce more than 3-5 per cent increase in the net budget allocation for the Ministry of Railways. If that happens, then Indian Railways' Budget for the FY 2021-22 may not be more than Rs 1.75 lakh crore." Dixit also reported that the central Government's financial assistance to the Indian Railways in the FY 2021-22 may not be more than Rs 75 lakh crore.

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Revealing the reason for such a low annual budget allocation to the Indian Railways, Dixit said, "This low budget allocation to the Ministry of Indian Railways is because of the limited income due to the COVID-19 pandemic." He said that in fact, the Budget 2021 may announce Indian Railways focus on modernisation of the Railway platforms, more amenities to the passengers like more lifts being installed on the railway's stations and more private trains can be announced in the upcoming budget on February 1st.

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ZEE BUSINESS BUDGET EXCLUSIVE

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"In upcoming budget on February 1st, we can expect more private train announcement connecting the North-East part of India with the mainland," concluded Dixit.