“Mumbai is now as much mine as Thackeray’s. It belongs to Bihari’s and all Countrymen,” said a chuffed Lalu Prasad Yadav after presenting the Railway Budget for 2008-2009, one that after a long time gives the country’s financial capital its due.

The railway minister cleared the decks for the ambitious Rs. 5000 crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project (Phase II) and announced a pre-feasibility study for an elevated air-conditioned train service between Mumbai Central and Virar besides starting 300 additional train services and providing new ticketing options for commuters.

In a significant concession to students, all girls studying up to graduation level can avail of free season’s tickets to travel to their schools and colleges. Boys studying in classes up to Std XII will also get the same Benefit.

Mumbai CST to become World-Class Station. Go Mumbai smart cards to be introduced on CR from March. Can be used on BEST buses too. Multi-layered parking, lifts and escalators at designated station’s CCTV’s, baggage scanners at all major stations.

Also, The Railway minister announced a profit of Rs. 25,000 Crore for the year 2007-2008.

Well, seems that mr. Lalu is over hyping the profits of Railways. Clearly the budget is to attract voters for coming elections. There are many question which are still unanswered like how he will handle upcoming traffic as the expansion and plans he made are based upon todays need but all he promised will take around 3-5 years to make reality and what about needs of that time ?

Also, he says that railway is modernizing but why the fact is overlooked that only 1/3rd of railway infrastructure is being worked upon and rest is still to be looked upon.