Railway Budget 2011: Kiran Reddy welcomes Rail Budget

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has welcomed the Union Railway Budget 2011-12 and described it as "common man's welfare budget".

In a statement here, the Chief Minister appreciated the Railway Budget for the concessions announced to physically- challenged persons for travel on Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains.

He also welcomed the Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana for 114 socially-desirable projects and for creating a separate sports cadre in the Railways to encourage young talent in the country.

The Chief Minister hoped that in near future many more projects would be allotted to Andhra Pradesh.

Kiran Kumar thanked MPs from the state for their efforts in getting new sanctions and projects for AP.

He also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for the sanctions made to the state.

Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu came down heavily on the Railway Minister for "neglecting Andhra Pradesh yet again."

"This is not the first time injustice has been done to AP in the Railway Budget. It has been happening for several years now. In fact, the budget is no good even for the country," Naidu told reporters here.