The Central Cabinet has
decided to discontinue the practice of presenting separate budget for Railways, thus changing the 92 year practice of separate budget. The reason mentioned is that the relevancy of separate budget is over, and unlike earlier. Railways budget was more or equal to the general budget earlier.

There are several questions which have to be answered. Whether the priority of Railways has declined? Whether a strategic change is going to come over the governance of the Railways, including corporatisation and privatisation as implemented in the telecom sector? Whether this will result in steep hike of the railway charges hitting the ordinary traveller?

A thorough study by experts is necessary. All or some of the above may result due to the present decision.